Starship flight test 3

{{Further information|SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 2#Aftermath}}

After the second flight test in November 2023 ended in the destruction of both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft, 17 significant changes were made to the vehicles, including upgrading the ship to an electric thrust vector control (TVC) system{{cite web |date=February 26, 2024 |title=SpaceX - Updates |url=https://www.spacex.com/updates/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913122653/https://www.spacex.com/updates/ |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=SpaceX}}{{Cite tweet |number=1762236880207184017 |user=wapodavenport |last=Davenport |first=Christian |date=February 26, 2024 |title=The FAA has closed the mishap investigation into the second Starship test flight. |access-date=November 14, 2024}} (the booster had received similar upgrades for the second flight test{{cite web |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/11/04/spacex-poised-for-mid-november-of-second-starship-test-launch/ |title=SpaceX poised for 'mid-November' launch of second Starship test flight |last=Robinson-Smith |first=Will |date=November 4, 2023 |website=Spaceflight Now |access-date=March 13, 2024 |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124024755/https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/11/04/spacex-poised-for-mid-november-of-second-starship-test-launch/ |url-status=live }}) and delaying the vent of liquid oxygen (LOX) to after Starship engine cutoff (SECO).

SpaceX upgraded the orbital tank farm with additional subcoolers and pumps to increase the propellant flow rate. In addition, two water tanks were removed and scrapped. Steel plates have been added to concrete at the base of the launch tower due to erosion from the engines. A concrete wall has replaced the HESCO barriers previously protecting the tank farm.{{cite web |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/01/wdr-horizon-flight-3 |title=Wet dress rehearsal on the horizon for Starship's third flight |last=Weber |first=Ryan |date=January 25, 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |access-date=March 13, 2024 |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204014937/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/01/wdr-horizon-flight-3/ |url-status=live }}

{{expand section|with information about the actual "Development prior to launch"|date=March 2024}}

Testing of the Flight 3 vehicles began just under a month after second flight test,{{Citation |title=SpaceX Rolls Out Ship 28 for Third Starship Flight Test Campaign |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ctr4Qf99G8 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214120543/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ctr4Qf99G8 |archive-date=December 14, 2023 |url-status=live |language=en}}.{{Cite tweet |number=1736722892878971139 |user=alexphysics13 |last=Alejandro Alcantarilla |first=Romera |date=December 18, 2023 |title=Booster 10 is rolling out to the launch site one month after Starship's second flight. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218140744/https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1736722892878971139 |archive-date=December 18, 2023 |access-date=December 18, 2023}} with S28 and B10 undergoing their individual static fire tests in late December 2023.{{Citation |title=SpaceX Static Fires Ship 28 for Third Starship Flight Test Campaign |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO4olRWhFQs |access-date=December 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220200416/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO4olRWhFQs |archive-date=December 20, 2023 |url-status=live |language=en}}.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWYZ90lAUOk |title=SpaceX Dual Static fire of Booster 10 and Starship 28 |type=Video |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com |access-date=December 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229152226/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWYZ90lAUOk |archive-date=December 29, 2023 |url-status=live}} The FAA closed its mishap investigation of the second flight test on February 26, 2024. In the mishap report, SpaceX identified 17 corrective actions, of which ten were for the Starship upper stage and seven for the Super Heavy booster.{{cite tweet |number=1762236880207184017 |user=wapodavenport |title=The FAA has closed the mishap investigation into the second Starship test flight. |first=Christian |last=Davenport |date=February 26, 2024 |access-date=March 7, 2024}} Booster 10 and S28 conducted a wet dress rehearsal on March 3, 2024.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Eg_FltUZk |title=SpaceX Performs Third Attempt of B10/S28 Wet Dress Rehearsal |date=March 4, 2024 |type=Video |language=en |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com |time=1:43:52 |access-date=March 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306151314/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Eg_FltUZk&ab_channel=NASASpaceflight |archive-date=March 6, 2024 |url-status=live}} On March 5, 2024, SpaceX announced that they were targeting a launch date of March 14, 2024, pending regulatory approval.{{cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |author-link=Eric Berger (journalist) |date=March 6, 2024 |title=The next Starship mission has a tentative launch date: March 14 |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/the-next-starship-mission-has-a-tentative-launch-date-march-14/ |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=March 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306144340/https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/the-next-starship-mission-has-a-tentative-launch-date-march-14/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Reisinger |first=Don |date=March 7, 2024 |title=SpaceX Starship Mission 3: How to Watch the March 14 Launch |url=https://www.cnet.com/science/space/spacex-starship-mission-3-how-to-watch-the-march-14-launch/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=CNET |language=en |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308222341/https://www.cnet.com/science/space/spacex-starship-mission-3-how-to-watch-the-march-14-launch/ |url-status=live }} On March 13, 2024, the FAA granted the launch license for this flight, the third flight test.{{cite web |url=https://www.faa.gov/media/69476 |title=Commercial Space Transportation License No. VOL 23-129 Rev. 2 |date=March 13, 2024 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |access-date=March 13, 2024 |archive-date=March 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313204852/https://www.faa.gov/media/69476 |url-status=live }}

Starship flight test 3 launched from the SpaceX Starbase facility along the South Texas coast around 8:25 CDT. As with the second flight test, ignition of all 33 booster engines and stage separation were both successful.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxCYzixV3s&t=31680s |title=SpaceX Launches Third Starship Flight Test |date=2024-03-14 |last=NASASpaceflight |time=8:48:00 |access-date=2025-02-04 |via=YouTube}} B10 conducted a boostback burn. However, 6 engines began shutting down unexpectedly causing a premature boostback shutdown; the planned landing in the Gulf of Mexico was not successful due to the same six engines that failed before being disabled leaving seven engines commanded to startup with two successfully reaching ignition. Following the failures, SpaceX reported that the booster was destroyed at an estimated altitude of approximately {{convert|462|m|sp=us}}. The cause of these failures was determined by SpaceX to be filter blockage of liquid oxygen to the engines. A similar problem occurred in the second flight test, leading Booster 10 to get upgraded filtering.{{cite web |title=ON THE PATH TO RAPID REUSABILITY |url=https://www.spacex.com/updates/#flight-3-report |website=SpaceX.com |access-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524141356/https://www.spacex.com/updates/#flight-3-report |archive-date=May 24, 2024}}

The Starship spacecraft itself reached space and the intended orbital velocity. It then conducted several tests after engine cutoff, including a successful propellant transfer demo and payload dispenser test. It attempted to re-enter the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean, and at an altitude of around 65 km, all telemetry from Ship 28 stopped, indicating a loss of the vehicle.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxCYzixV3s&t=34458s |title=SpaceX Launches Third Starship Flight Test |date=2024-03-14 |last=NASASpaceflight |time=9:34:18 |access-date=2025-02-25 |via=YouTube}}{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Stephen |title=SpaceX celebrates major progress on the third flight of Starship |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/after-its-third-test-flight-spacexs-starship-could-soon-carry-satellites/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |date=March 14, 2024 |archive-date=March 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316013647/https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/03/after-its-third-test-flight-spacexs-starship-could-soon-carry-satellites/ |url-status=live }} According to SpaceX, S28 was experiencing excessive roll rates causing it to have an "off-nominal entry". This was caused by clogging of the valves responsible for roll control on Starship.

After the launch, SpaceX confirmed that Super Heavy was destroyed at 462 m above sea level over the Gulf of Mexico. The status of the payload door test became one of the focuses of unofficial interpretations of the flight in YouTube and news articles, due to a perceived issue seen from the flight video concerning the payload door. SpaceX's account of the launch states that the payload test had been a success.

Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX, said the company was still investigating the data and what went wrong in the third flight test, but that the fourth flight test could launch soon, possibly by early May.{{cite web |title=SpaceX planning rapid turnaround for next Starship flight |date=March 19, 2024 |url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-planning-rapid-turnaround-for-next-starship-flight/ |access-date=March 20, 2024}}

NASA chief Bill Nelson praised SpaceX for "a successful test flight". He also stated, "Today we are making great strides through Artemis to return humanity to the Moon - then look onward to Mars." SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk also praised the team and stated "Starship will take humanity to Mars."{{cite web |title=Despite problems, SpaceX hails progress after third test of Starship rocket |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/14/despite-problems-spacex-hails-progress-after-third-test-of-starship-rocket |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315123017/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/14/despite-problems-spacex-hails-progress-after-third-test-of-starship-rocket |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |access-date=March 16, 2024 |website=Al Jazeera}}

On March 14, 2024, the FAA declared that a mishap had occurred involving both the upper stage and booster, triggering the start of a SpaceX-led investigation overseen by the FAA.{{cite web |date=March 14, 2024 |title=FAA Statements on Aviation Accidents and Incidents |url=https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314192027/https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |website=FAA}} The agency's associate administrator for commercial space transportation, Kelvin Coleman, said on March 18 that he did not anticipate any major issues that could delay the investigation. Additionally, there was talk for the FAA to begin issuing a "portfolio of launches", authorizing multiple launches rather than a single launch at a time, as part of a broader effort to streamline the launch license process in response to criticism from SpaceX and Congress that the FAA was moving too slow on approving them. The next launch license will likely require modification, but Coleman said the FAA may be able to first complete a public safety determination, finding that there were no flaws in critical safety systems on the March launch that would have endangered the safety of the uninvolved public. If so, “that would decouple the mishap investigation from the license modification, and that means that we could get the license modification done while the mishap investigation is ongoing.”{{cite news | title = FAA: no current plans to tax commercial space launches | url = https://spacenews.com/faa-no-current-plans-to-tax-commercial-space-launches/ | publisher = SpaceNews | date = April 10, 2024 | access-date = April 14, 2024 }} However, both are still needed in order for a launch license to be granted.{{cite tweet |first=Marcia |last=Smith |number=1778102267356356681 |user=spcplcyonline |title=next Starship launch has to both clear the mishap investigation and get license modification bc they're planning to do "some different things." |access-date=April 22, 2024 }}

On April 5, SpaceX requested that the FAA agree that the third flight test mishap did not present a public safety issue.{{Cite tweet |number=1793279114989711393 |user=BCCarCounters |last=Beil |first=Adrian |title=The FAA has corrected the date of submission by SpaceX for the safety determination. |access-date=May 22, 2024}} On May 11, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk stated that the fourth Starship launch could occur in 3-5 weeks, bringing the date forward to early-mid June. The FAA investigation and launch license remained pending.{{cite web |title=Musk sees fourth flight of SpaceX's Starship in 3-5 weeks | website = Reuters | url = https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/spacexs-starship-sees-fourth-flight-3-5-weeks-musk-says-2024-05-11/ | date = May 12, 2024 | access-date = May 12, 2024 }} On May 17, the FAA made a statement that if the FAA agrees no public safety issues were involved in the mishap, SpaceX may return to flight while the third flight test investigation remains open, provided all other license requirements are met.{{cite tweet |number=1791600893151821827 |user=BCCarCounters |title=Statement of FAA provided to @NASASpaceflight about SpaceX led investigation |first=Adrian |last=Beil |access-date=May 18, 2024 }} This statement does not constitute SpaceX being granted a Launch License.

On May 24, SpaceX released a blog post stating the results from flight 3. According to SpaceX, during the boostback burn, 6 engines began to shut down, causing an early boostback shutdown. The vehicle prevented these engines from performing the landing burn, leaving only 7 engines. 2 of the engines were able to successfully ignite. The vehicle had lower than expected thrust, and it was lost at an altitude of 462 meters. The main likely cause of the boostback shutdown was due to filter blockage in the liquid oxygen intake, leading to loss of pressure in the oxygen turbopumps. According to SpaceX, several minutes after the ship engine cutoff (SECO), the valves responsible for the roll control thrusters were clogged. This precluded the in flight raptor relight test. Due to the unplanned roll, the ship experienced much higher heat loads in both unprotected and tiled sections.

In order to mitigate these issues, SpaceX has implemented hardware changes to the booster liquid oxygen tank to improve propellant filtration. SpaceX has also added more roll control thrusters on the ship for redundancy. Additionally, hardware and software changes were implemented to improve Raptor startup reliability.

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