SpaceX Moves Starship Flight 6 Launch to November 19

Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas, USA,Sun Nov 17 2024
SpaceX has pushed back the launch of Starship Flight 6 to November 19. Originally set for November 18, this change was announced by SpaceX on their social media and website. The test, named IFT-6 (Integrated Flight Test 6), will involve launching and hopefully catching the spacecraft. To get ready, SpaceX has stacked the Super Heavy Booster 13 with Ship 31, the upper stage spacecraft. They've shared images of this process, showcasing the spaceship being lifted onto the booster. This test is different from previous ones because it will try to capture data on new thermal protection materials and testing the limits of Starship's control system. The launch window is set for a 30-minute slot starting at 4 PM CT. SpaceX wants to test new secondary thermal protection materials and will purposefully stress the ship's control system. They also planned the launch window to make the ship enter over the Indian Ocean in daylight. SpaceX aims to gather data to improve future landing profiles and catch techniques. This is a big step in their plans to make space travel more efficient and reusable.
https://localnews.ai/article/spacex-moves-starship-flight-6-launch-to-november-19-dd40ab47

questions

    Do the Starship engineers ever get tired of stacking and unstacking rockets with the Mechazilla Chopsticks?
    What specific data does SpaceX hope to gather from the higher angle of attack during the final phase of descent?
    What are the implications of removing heat shield tiles on either side of the ship for future Starship missions?

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