Starship flight test 4
{{Short description|Fourth launch of SpaceX Starship}}{{about|the fourth flight test of the Starship+Super Heavy vehicle|other launches of Starship|List of Starship launches}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{infobox spaceflight
| name = Starship flight test 4
| image =
| image_caption =
| mission_type = Suborbital flight test
| mission_duration = 1 hour, 6 minutes, 10 seconds
| operator = SpaceX
| spacecraft = Starship Ship 29
| spacecraft_type = Starship
| manufacturer = SpaceX
| launch_date = {{launch time|June 6, 2024|12|50|00|CDT|net=no}}{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2024 |title=STARSHIP'S FOURTH FLIGHT TEST |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-4 |access-date=June 6, 2024 |website=SpaceX |language=en |archive-date=June 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601194910/https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-4 |url-status=live }}
| launch_rocket = Super Heavy (B11)
| launch_site = Starbase, OLP-A
| landing_date = {{Unbulleted list
| Booster: {{launch time|June 6, 2024|12|57|30|CDT|unlink=yes|net=no}}
| Spacecraft: {{launch time|June 6, 2024|13|55|57|CDT|unlink=yes|net=no}}
}}
| landing_site = {{Unbulleted list
| Super Heavy: Gulf of Mexico
| Ship: Indian Ocean
}}
| orbit_regime = Suborbital
| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|-15|km}}{{Cite web |last=McDowell |first=Jonathan |date=June 23, 2024 |title=Jonathan's Space Report No. 834 |url=https://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.834.txt |access-date=November 8, 2024 |website=planet4589}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|213|km}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m0TY6i1Kuo |title=SpaceX's Starship Literally Melted! But It Kept Flying To A Miraculous Landing! |date=June 6, 2024 |last=Manley |first=Scott |access-date=June 6, 2024 |via=YouTube |archive-date=June 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607015438/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m0TY6i1Kuo |url-status=live }}{{nonspecific|date=February 2025}}
| insignia = Starship flight test 4 patch.jpg
| insignia_caption = Mission patch
| programme = SpaceX Starship flight tests
| previous_mission = Flight 3
| next_mission = Flight 5
}}
Starship flight test 4 was the fourth flight test of the SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. SpaceX performed the flight test on June 6, 2024. The prototype vehicles flown were the Starship Ship 29 upper-stage and Super Heavy Booster 11.{{cite web |title=SpaceX Revving Up for Starship Flight 3: {{!}} Starbase Update | date=January 29, 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxlV8tNBSSs |access-date=February 13, 2024 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight |language=en |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129195457/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxlV8tNBSSs |url-status=live }}{{Cite tweet |number=1765798484148428999 |user=NASASpaceflight |title=We are live with testing of Ship 29, which is the upper stage of the fourth Starship Flight Test. |first=Chris |last=Bergin |access-date=May 11, 2024}}
The main test objectives of this flight, both of which were accomplished, were for the Super Heavy booster to simulate a landing at a "virtual tower" just above the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, and for Starship to survive at least peak heating during atmospheric re-entry.{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Justin |date=April 19, 2024 |title=As IFT-4 prepares for launch, Starship's future is coming into focus |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/04/ift-4-prepares-starships-future-focus/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US |archive-date=May 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506061043/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/04/ift-4-prepares-starships-future-focus/ |url-status=live }}
This marked the first integrated test flight where both Starship and Super Heavy successfully reentered and performed a powered vertical landing over the ocean surface.
Background
{{Further information|SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 3#Aftermath}}
= Investigation prior to launch =
Starship flight test 3 in March 2024 attained full duration burns of both stages and reached orbital velocity.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxCYzixV3s&t=31980s |title=SpaceX Launches Third Starship Flight Test |date=2024-03-14 |last=NASASpaceflight |time=8:53:00 |access-date=2025-02-04 |via=YouTube}} However, both stages were destroyed during atmospheric return, prompting a SpaceX-led mishap investigation overseen by the FAA. The FAA stated that a completed license modification, incorporating corrective actions and meeting other requirements, was required for a launch license to be granted for this flight, the fourth flight test.{{Cite web |date=March 14, 2024 |title=FAA Statements on Aviation Accidents and Incidents |url=https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/accident_incidents |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503042714/https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/statements/accident_incidents |archive-date=May 3, 2024 |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=FAA |at=March 14, 2024, Commercial Space / Boca Chica, Texas}}{{Cite tweet |last=Smith |first=Marcia |number=1778102267356356681 |user=spcplcyonline |title=next Starship launch has to both clear the mishap invstgtn and get license modification bc they're planning to do "some different things." |access-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-date=May 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507201951/https://twitter.com/SpcPlcyOnline/status/1778102267356356681?s=46&t=X_3pYMdCCOx3EH_7dvCogQ |url-status=live }}
SpaceX stated in early April that it would intend to attempt a booster landing with the tower arms on the fifth flight test if the booster virtual landing is successful during the fourth flight test.{{Cite tweet |number=1776676390735163511 |user=nasaspaceflight |last=Bergin |first=Chris |title=Some interesting notes |access-date=April 6, 2024 |archive-date=April 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406222211/https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1776676390735163511 |url-status=live }} In late April, a NASA official confirmed SpaceX remained on track for the fourth test flight to occur in May 2024.{{Cite web |last=Beil |first=Adrian |date=April 28, 2024 |title=NASA Updates on Starship Refueling, as SpaceX Prepares Flight 4 of Starship |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/04/nasa-hls-update/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US |archive-date=April 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430011213/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/04/nasa-hls-update/ |url-status=live }}
The communications license necessary for Flight 4 was granted by the FCC on April 18.{{Cite tweet |number=1781055123562578002 |user=FccSpace |title=License granted: Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Dates: 04/25/2024-10/25/2024 Purpose: Launch vehicle communications for test flight mission launching from Starbase, TX. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607074619/https://x.com/FccSpace/status/1781055123562578002 |archive-date=June 7, 2024 |access-date=May 5, 2024}} On May 17, SpaceX asked that the FAA make a public safety determination regarding the third flight test, which would allow SpaceX to launch the test flight while the mishap investigation is in progress if determined there was no public safety danger.{{Cite tweet |number=1791600893151821827 |user=BCCarCounters |last=Beil |first=Adrian |title=Statement of FAA provided to @NASASpaceflight about SpaceX led investigation |access-date=May 17, 2024 |archive-date=June 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607074254/https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1791600893151821827/photo/1 |url-status=live }} The FAA concluded the investigation on May 28 and determined that the third flight test had not threatened public safety.{{cite web |last=Beil |first=Adrian |date=May 30, 2024 |title=As SpaceX Completes Second Starship WDR, FAA Closes Safety Investigation Into Flight 3 |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/05/starship-flight4-faa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530165129/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/05/starship-flight4-faa/ |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=NASASpaceflight}}{{Cite tweet |number=1795495860651835778 |user=BCCarCounters |last=Beil |first=Adrian |title=Statement by the FAA provided to @NASASpaceflight |access-date=May 28, 2024 |archive-date=May 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529031054/https://x.com/BCCarCounters/status/1795495860651835778 |url-status=live }} SpaceX received regulatory approval to launch from the FAA on June 4.{{Cite web |title=VOL 23_129 SpaceX Starship Super Heavy rev 3.pdf |url=https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/DRSDOCID173891218620231102140506.0001?modalOpened=true%3FmodalOpened%3Dtrue%3FmodalOpened%3Dtrue |access-date=June 4, 2024 |website=drs.faa.gov |archive-date=June 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604202913/https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/DRSDOCID173891218620231102140506.0001%3FmodalOpened%3Dtrue%3FmodalOpened%3Dtrue?modalOpened=true |url-status=live }}
Starship flight test 4 was initially scheduled to launch on June 5, but was pushed back a day to June 6.{{cite web |last=Wall |first=Mike |date=June 3, 2024 |title=SpaceX targeting June 6 for next launch of Starship megarocket |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-launch-date-june-6 |access-date=June 4, 2024 |website=Space.com |archive-date=June 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603214435/https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-launch-date-june-6 |url-status=live }} For this fourth flight test, the FAA listed three specific outcomes that would not trigger a mishap-investigation: the ship burning up during reentry, the flaps not having sufficient control of the ship, or the Raptor 2 engines failing to relight for landing.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=June 5, 2024 |title=We know Starship can fly—now it's time to see if it can come back to Earth |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/we-know-starship-can-fly-now-its-time-to-see-if-it-can-come-back-to-earth/ |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=June 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605075005/https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/we-know-starship-can-fly-now-its-time-to-see-if-it-can-come-back-to-earth/ |url-status=live }}
= Vehicle ground testing =
{{See also|Super Heavy Booster 11|Starship Ship 29}}
Booster 11 and Ship 29 were first spotted around August 2022. Both stages underwent multiple cryogenic proof tests in late 2023, with Ship 29 performing a spin prime test{{Broken anchor|date=2025-06-03|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=SpaceX Starship flight tests#Vehicle testing|reason= }} in March 2024.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZD3nI2IJHY |title=SpaceX Tests Ship 29 Again in Preparation for the Fourth Starship Flight |date=2024-03-11 |last=NASASpaceflight |time=1:16:04 |access-date=2025-02-28 |via=YouTube}} Following Starship's third test flight, Ship 29 was lifted onto Suborbital Pad B for two static fire tests in late March, and was later returned to the High Bay for pre-flight modifications. A 33-engine static-fire was conducted on Booster 11 on Orbital Launch Mount A on April 5. Booster 11's hot-staging ring was installed in early May.{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Ryan |date=May 5, 2024 |title=Ship 30 set to Static Fire next week as Flight 4 Preparations Continue |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/05/ship-30-and-flight-4-preparations/ |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US |archive-date=May 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507044511/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/05/ship-30-and-flight-4-preparations/ |url-status=live }} Ship 29 was lifted onto Booster 11 on May 15,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp52t-u0mdY |title=Fullstack: SpaceX Stacks Ship 29 on Booster 11 |date=May 15, 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=May 15, 2024 |via=YouTube |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515161410/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp52t-u0mdY |url-status=live }} followed by a partial propellant load test on May 16.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECXs1y7tkHs&t=5458s |title=SpaceX Tests the Full Stack of the Fourth Starship Flight Test |language=en |time=1:30:58 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520054157/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECXs1y7tkHs |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |url-status=live |via=www.youtube.com}} A wet dress rehearsal (WDR) was conducted on May 20.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_fIEFixUBw |title=SpaceX Performs Wet Dress Rehearsal of Fourth Starship Flight Stack |date=May 20, 2024 |last=NASASpaceflight |access-date=May 20, 2024 |via=YouTube |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520141146/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_fIEFixUBw |url-status=live }}
On May 28, SpaceX performed a second wet dress rehearsal of S29 and B11,{{Cite tweet |number=1795840604972429597 |user=spacex |title=Starship and Super Heavy loaded with more than 10 million pounds of propellant in a rehearsal ahead of Flight 4. |access-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-date=May 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529222950/https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1795840604972429597 |url-status=live }} and on May 30, SpaceX installed the flight termination system (FTS or AFSS) on B11 and S29.{{Cite tweet |number=1796187538069033303 |user=starshipgazer |last=Starship Gazer |title=FTS (Flight Termination System) explosives are being installed on both Ship 29 and Booster 11 this morning for the upcoming Starship test flight 4. Very exciting pre-launch milestone! |access-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530153432/https://twitter.com/StarshipGazer/status/1796187538069033303 |url-status=live }} On June 5, S29 was stacked on top of B11 for the fourth and final time.{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2024 |title=Speeding on to Flight 4: The Chronology of S29 & B11 |url=https://ringwatchers.com/article/s29-b11-chronology |access-date=June 16, 2024 |website=Ringwatchers}} SpaceX intentionally omitted two TPS (Thermal Protection System) tiles and replaced one with a thinner tile to test how the loss of tiles would affect the ship.{{Cite tweet |number=1798694881973645741 |user=SpaceX |title=We intentionally placed one thin heatshield tile and removed two tiles completely from the Ship to measure how hot things get without tiles in those locations, while also testing some thermal protection options |access-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606124249/https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1798694881973645741 |url-status=live }}
= Changes from the previous flight =
During Starship's third test flight, the booster was destroyed just before splashdown due to engine failures caused by filter blockage of liquid oxygen to the engines. The ship was destroyed during reentry, due to excessive roll rates caused by clogged roll control valves. As a result, modifications were made to Booster 11's oxygen tanks to improve propellant filtration capability, while hardware and software changes were implemented to improve Raptor startup reliability. Additional roll control thrusters were added to the ship to improve attitude control redundancy.{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2024 |title=SpaceX - Updates |url=https://www.spacex.com/updates/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613002657/https://www.spacex.com/updates/ |archive-date=June 13, 2024 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |website=SpaceX}}{{Cite web |last=Robinson-Smith |first=Will |date=June 6, 2024 |title=SpaceX accomplishes first soft splashdown of Starship, Super Heavy Booster on Flight 4 mission |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/06/06/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-its-starship-rocket-on-its-fourth-test-flight/ |access-date=June 16, 2024 |website=Spaceflight Now}}
Several changes were spotted on Ship 29, including updates to the TPS tile adhesive and layout. B11 received upgrades such as reinforcements of tanks and additions to improve rigidity and durability.{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2024 |title=Building Upon Accomplishments: What's New on Starship 29 & Booster 11? |url=https://ringwatchers.com/article/s29-b11-updates |access-date=June 16, 2024 |website=Ringwatchers}}{{Unreliable source?|date=February 2025|reason=A reliable sources noticeboard discussion has reached the consensus that Ringwatchers is not a reliable source.|certain=yes}} The largest horizontal tanks in the orbital tank farm were made operational, supplementing the older vertical tanks that were being retired. Suborbital Pad B was decommissioned in May 2024, and vehicle testing operations were moved to Massey's Test Site to make room for the construction of Orbital Launch Mount B.{{Cite web |last=Morales |first=Mia |date=June 16, 2024 |title=SpaceX begins building second Starbase launch tower, week after fourth launch |url=https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/spacex-begins-building-second-starbase-launch-tower-week-after-fourth-launch/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |website=ValleyCentral.com}}
Flight
The mission profile for Starship flight test 4 was very similar to that of the third flight test, with the propellant transfer demonstration, the payload bay door demonstration, and the Raptor engine relight demonstration being omitted. There was also the addition of the jettisoning of the Super Heavy's hot staging ring two seconds after the shutdown of the boostback burn, and Starship was to attempt a landing flip and landing burn.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/06/starship-launch-fourth-time/ |title=Starship finds success on fourth flight test |date=June 5, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/03/starship-passes-milestones-ift-4/ |title=Following IFT-3 milestones, SpaceX prepares for fourth Starship flight |date=March 22, 2024}}
One of the 33 Raptor engines on Booster 11 failed to stay lit during the initial burn, and one of the thirteen used for the landing burn failed to light. Neither engine failure affected the outcome of the flight because of redundancy in the multiple-engine design. To reduce mass during descent, a temporary design change on this test flight was used to jettison the booster hot-staging ring.{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2024 |title=STARSHIP'S FOURTH FLIGHT TEST |url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-4 |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=SpaceX.com |archive-date=June 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601194910/https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-4 |url-status=live }} Longer term, the hot-staging ring is intended to be redesigned for lighter weight and tight integration with the booster and will not be jettisoned.
B11 successfully conducted a powered vertical landing over the Gulf of Mexico, splashing down into the ocean.{{Cite web |last=SPACE.com |first=Mike Wall |title=SpaceX Starship Blasts through Plasma on Return from Ambitious Test Flight |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacex-starship-blasts-through-plasma-on-return-from-ambitious-test-flight/ |access-date=June 6, 2024 |website=Scientific American |language=en |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606154118/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacex-starship-blasts-through-plasma-on-return-from-ambitious-test-flight/ |url-status=live }} The booster was destroyed after tipping over, and part of the engine section was recovered in September 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy-booster-retrieved-sea-photo |title=SpaceX fishes Starship Super Heavy booster out of the sea (photo) |author=Mike Wall |date=September 24, 2024 |website=Space.com}} Bill Gerstenmaier stated that the booster landed "with half a centimeter accuracy."{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=October 9, 2024 |title=NASA "really looking forward" to next Starship test flight |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-really-looking-forward-to-next-starship-test-flight/ |access-date=October 13, 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}
After completing a full duration burn of all six engines, Ship 29 successfully re-entered the atmosphere, maintaining attitude control despite significant visible damage to the structure and flaps, and loss of some number of heat shield tiles. Following the hypersonic descent through the atmosphere, S29 performed a powered vertical landing above the ocean before splashing into the Indian Ocean.{{cite news |last=Harwood |first=William |date=June 6, 2024 |title=SpaceX's Super Heavy-Starship rocket launches on "epic" test flight |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-super-heavy-starship-test-flight/ |access-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606155955/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-super-heavy-starship-test-flight/ |url-status=live }} Elon Musk said that the ship maintained subsonic control but landed approximately {{convert|6|km|sp=us}} away from the target splashdown location.{{Cite web |last=Youtube.com |first=Ellie in Space |title=Elon Musk discusses Starship's 4th Flight |website=YouTube |date=June 7, 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjAWYytTKco |access-date=June 7, 2024 |archive-date=June 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607203137/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjAWYytTKco&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live }}
= Flight timeline =
| class="wikitable collapsible"
!Time !June 6, 2024 |
| −01:15:00
| Flight director conducts a poll and verifies go for propellant loading |{{Success|Go for propellant loading}} |
| −00:49:00
|Starship fuel (liquid methane) load start |{{Success}} |
| −00:47:00
|Starship oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start |{{Success}} |
| −00:40:00
|Super Heavy fuel (liquid methane) load start | {{success}} |
| −00:37:00
|Super Heavy oxidizer (liquid oxygen) load start | {{success}} |
| −00:19:40
|Super Heavy and Starship engine chill | {{success}} |
| −00:03:20
|Starship propellant load complete | {{success}} |
| −00:02:50
|Super Heavy propellant load complete | {{success}} |
| −00:00:30
|Flight director verifies go for launch |{{Success|Go for launch}} |
| −00:00:10
|Flame deflector activation | {{success}} |
| −00:00:03
|Super Heavy engine ignition | {{partial failure}} |
| +00:00:02
|Liftoff | {{success}} |
| +00:01:02
|Throttle down for max q during ascent (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) | {{success}} |
| +00:02:46
|Super Heavy most engines cutoff (MECO) | {{success}} |
| +00:02:51
|Starship engine ignition and stage separation (hot-staging) | {{success}} |
| +00:02:57
|Super Heavy boostback burn start | {{success}} |
| +00:03:47
|Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown | {{success}} |
| +00:04:04
|Hot-stage jettison |{{success}} |
| +00:07:04
|Super Heavy is transonic | {{N/A}} |
| +00:07:09
|Super Heavy landing burn startup | {{partial failure}} |
| +00:07:30
|Super Heavy landing burn shutdown and splashdown | {{success}} |
| +00:08:37
|Starship engine cutoff (SECO) | {{success}} |
| +00:44:54
|Starship atmospheric reentry | {{Partial success}} |
| +01:03:17
|Starship is transonic | {{N/A}} |
| +01:03:38
|Starship is subsonic | {{N/A}} |
| +01:05:36
|Starship landing flip |{{Success}} |
| +01:05:39
|Starship landing burn |{{Success}} |
| +01:05:56
|Starship splashdown | {{Partial success}} |
Reactions
The flight was hailed as a success and marked the first time the Super Heavy booster and Ship achieved controlled splashdowns. A FAA clause for Flight 4, which would allow SpaceX to continue with additional flights of the same profile without a mishap investigation as long as no public safety issues occurred, was upheld as the flight did not encounter a mishap outside of the three exceptions.{{Cite web |last=Daleo |first=Jack |date=June 6, 2024 |title=SpaceX Starship's Fourth Test Flight Is Rocket's Most Successful Yet |url=https://www.flyingmag.com/modern/spacex-starships-fourth-test-flight-is-rockets-most-successful-yet/ |access-date=June 6, 2024 |website=FLYING Magazine |language=en |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606222416/https://www.flyingmag.com/modern/spacex-starships-fourth-test-flight-is-rockets-most-successful-yet/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=June 6, 2024 |title=Starship survives reentry during fourth test flight |url=https://spacenews.com/starship-survives-reentry-during-fourth-test-flight/ |access-date=June 6, 2024 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US |archive-date=June 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606222417/https://spacenews.com/starship-survives-reentry-during-fourth-test-flight/ |url-status=live }} On June 12, the FAA announced that they would not be requiring a mishap investigation for Flight 4 because all flight events occurred within the scope of planned and authorized activities.{{Cite news |last=Masso |first=Steven |date=June 12, 2024 |title=FAA not requiring investigation into fourth Starship launch |url=https://www.valleycentral.com/spacex/faa-not-requiring-investigation-into-fourth-starship-launch/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=ValleyCentral}} This was the first Starship flight test to not require an investigation.