What Exactly Happened On SpaceX's TENTH Starship Test Flight!

SpaceX’s Starship 10th integrated test flight marked a significant milestone in rocket technology development. This flight was the most successful demonstration of cutting-edge rocket technology we’ve witnessed so far. However, despite no spectacular explosion, the flight was anything but boring. Several unusual events occurred, raising questions like:

What happened to the Super Heavy booster?
Why did the Starship engine bay explode?
Why did the rocket turn orange?
Most importantly, what’s next for SpaceX’s Starship program?

In this blog, we’ll dive into the detailed happenings of this flight, explore the lessons learned, and examine the future of SpaceX’s Starship.

SpaceX's TENTH Starship Test Flight — SpaceX’s TENTH Starship Test Flight

Starship 10 Launch: Familiar Yet Unique

By this point, the Starship launch procedure is familiar to space enthusiasts, and this flight largely followed previous patterns. However, one notable difference was the rocket sitting on the pad with engines running for longer than usual before liftoff, with no movement until around 5 seconds after ignition.

This was likely a deliberate test by SpaceX as part of the developmental nature of Starship, where experimentation and learning are key. SpaceX is still in the development phase, trying new things with each flight.

Super Heavy Booster: Engine Failure and Recovery Attempts

Engine Failure After Max Q

The first anomaly was a booster engine failure shortly after passing through max Q—the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure. While engine failures on ascent aren’t unusual, this was unique because it happened at a high altitude.

Possible reasons include:

A hardware malfunction during throttle transitions.
An intentional test to observe the rocket’s behavior with an engine failure at this stage.

Why No Booster Catch?

Unlike earlier flights, SpaceX did not attempt to recover the booster via tower catch on Flight 10, mainly because:

The previous booster landing attempt was unsuccessful due to extreme aerodynamic stress from a high angle of attack re-entry.
The current booster design is being phased out and replaced by V3, making recovery less valuable.

SpaceX's TENTH Starship — SpaceX’s TENTH Starship

Flight 9 Lessons: High Angle of Attack Damage

On Flight 9, the booster flew at a 17° angle of attack during re-entry, causing severe structural damage and a fuel pipe rupture. The resulting engine restart attempt failed, causing an explosion. Flight 10 reduced this angle, allowing a smoother landing burn despite one engine already failed.

New Engine Shutdown Tests During Descent

SpaceX experimented by shutting down one center engine and using a middle ring engine during descent to test engine failure scenarios. The booster hovered smoothly before engine cutoff, then dropped into the ocean and exploded on impact.

Starship Upper Stage: The Real Success Story

Satellite Deployment: Starlink PEZ Dispenser

The Starship upper stage shined by successfully coasting through space and deploying satellites using the innovative Starlink PEZ dispenser. This simple satellite deployment method worked smoothly, with only minor contact between a dummy satellite and the payload door.

Raptor Engine Restart: A Crucial Milestone

One of the most critical achievements was the reliable restart of a Raptor engine in space. This capability is essential for completing the de-orbit burn and safely returning the ship, a prerequisite for future full orbital missions.

Re-Entry and the Engine Bay Explosion

Re-entry presented challenges, especially with the rear flaps, which suffered melting and structural damage, while the forward flaps performed well.

At about T+47 minutes, a sudden explosion occurred in the engine bay, with gas venting observed moments before. The stainless steel structure was severely damaged. Interestingly, signs of flap deterioration appeared even before the explosion, suggesting possible earlier unseen failures.

Why Did Starship Turn Orange and White?

Post-flight images revealed a striking color change:

Half the ship turned orange.
The other half turned white.
The black tiles at the nose cone turned white.

The Science Behind the Colors

The tiles are white ceramic coated with a thin black layer. During re-entry, areas where tiles were removed exposed white insulation material that vaporized and coated the ship, baking in like ceramic glazing and turning the surface white.
The orange/red color resulted from metallic test tiles oxidizing (rusting) during the flight due to atomic oxygen in the upper atmosphere. Rust particles vaporized and baked onto the tiles, causing the orange hue.

Landing Accuracy and What’s Next for Starship

Starship’s final splashdown was just 3 meters from the target—an impressive feat given the partial damage to control flaps. Elon Musk expects the first tower catch attempt between flights 13 and 15.

Upcoming Upgrades: Ship V3 and Raptor 3 Engines

Ship V3 will feature new, lighter, and more powerful Raptor 3 engines.
The current Mechazilla tower may only accommodate ships up to Flight 11.
Post Flight 11, current ships will be more expendable for testing and destructive scenarios.

Flight 11 and Beyond

Flight 11 is anticipated in the next 3-4 weeks and will likely include new tests and challenges. The Starship program remains a dynamic mix of progress and setbacks, keeping the space community on its toes.

Conclusion: A Leap Forward for SpaceX’s Starship

The 10th Starship test flight was a major step forward, proving important technologies like satellite deployment and in-space engine relights. Despite some dramatic moments, it marked the best performance yet.

The future of Starship is bright, with full orbit flights and tower catch recoveries on the horizon. As SpaceX continues to iterate, each flight brings us closer to a new era of space travel.

FAQs

1. What was the main goal of SpaceX’s 10th Starship test flight?

The main goal was to test new flight procedures, engine reliability, and re-entry capabilities as part of Starship’s ongoing development.

2. Why did the Super Heavy booster engine fail during Flight 10?

It likely experienced a hardware issue during throttle transitions after max Q or was part of an intentional test to study engine-out scenarios.

3. What is max Q and why is it critical during rocket ascent?

Max Q is the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure during flight, where structural stress on the rocket peaks, requiring engine throttle adjustments.

4. Why didn’t SpaceX attempt to recover the booster in this flight?

The booster design is being phased out, and SpaceX had already learned enough from previous recoveries, making recovery unnecessary for Flight 10.

5. What is the significance of the booster flying at a high angle of attack during re-entry?

Flying at an angle of attack increases drag to slow the booster and reduce fuel needs for landing but also adds stress that can damage the structure.

6. How did the booster perform during its landing burn in Flight 10?

Despite one engine failure, the booster performed a smooth landing burn but was intentionally allowed to crash into the ocean afterward.

7. What is the Starlink PEZ dispenser and how was it tested?

It’s a simple satellite deployment mechanism tested during Flight 10, successfully releasing dummy satellites into orbit.

8. Why is the Raptor engine’s in-space restart important?

Restarting engines in space enables the spacecraft to perform de-orbit burns, critical for returning safely from orbit.

9. What caused the engine bay explosion during re-entry?

A rapid gas venting event in the engine skirt area led to an explosion, damaging the stainless steel structure.

10. Why did the rear flaps melt during re-entry but the forward flaps didn’t?

The rear flaps experienced higher thermal stress and possible structural weaknesses, while the redesigned forward flaps performed as intended.

11. What caused the Starship to turn orange and white after re-entry?

The white areas are exposed insulation vaporized and baked into the surface, while the orange areas are metallic test tiles that oxidized (rusted) due to atomic oxygen exposure.

12. What is atomic oxygen and how does it affect spacecraft?

Atomic oxygen is a highly reactive form of oxygen in the upper atmosphere that can rapidly oxidize and degrade materials on spacecraft surfaces.

13. How accurate was the Starship’s splashdown during Flight 10?

Starship landed just 3 meters from the target, an impressive accuracy given the partial flap damage.

14. When can we expect the first tower catch of Starship?

Elon Musk estimates the first tower catch will occur between Flight 13 and Flight 15.

15. What upgrades are expected in Starship V3?

Starship V3 will have new Raptor 3 engines with increased power and a lighter, simplified design.

16. Why is the current Mechazilla tower only suitable up to Flight 11?

The tower’s height limits it to catching ships smaller than V3, making it unsuitable for future larger booster stacks.

17. What lessons did SpaceX learn from Flight 9 that affected Flight 10?

Flight 9’s high angle of attack damaged the booster, prompting a reduced angle on Flight 10 for safer re-entry.

18. Why did SpaceX let the Flight 10 booster crash into the ocean?

Because the booster design is being replaced, and they no longer need to recover this hardware, reducing risk and cleanup concerns.

19. What makes Flight 10 different from previous Starship flights?

It was the first fully successful engine burn and shutdown, satellite deployment, and engine restart in space without catastrophic failure.

20. What are the next steps for SpaceX after Flight 10?

Expect Flight 11 within weeks, testing new features, followed by incremental improvements leading to orbital flights and eventual booster tower catches.

What Exactly Happened On SpaceX’s TENTH Starship Test Flight!