TLDR · SCIENCE & FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY

SPACEX SETS DATE FOR NEXT STARSHIP FLIGHT, EXPLAINS WHAT WENT WRONG THE LAST TIME

arstechnica.com3 min read

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

SpaceX is targeting June 5 for its next Starship test flight. The highly anticipated flight seeks to demonstrate the Super Heavy stage's ability to make a soft landing in the Gulf of Mexico. It also aims for the Starship upper stage to make a controlled reentry through the Earth's atmosphere before falling into the Indian Ocean. The Super Heavy first stage failed to make a soft landing in previous attempts due to a blockage in a filter in the Raptor engines. The Starship upper stage lost the ability to control its altitude during its coast phase in space due to clogged valves used by its reaction control thrusters.