SpaceX has posted videos taken by its drones in the Indian Ocean on social media. They demonstrate the splashdown of the Starship spacecraft during its eleventh flight.
The eleventh Starship flight took place on October 13. It was the final flight for the current Block 2 modification. Its previous tests were often accompanied by various technical problems and ended in accidents.
However, the final flight of Starship Block 2 was almost flawless. SpaceX successfully tested a new operating mode for the Super Heavy booster, restarted one of the Raptor engines in space, and successfully tested an improved Starlink satellite release system.
But the main test for Starship was entering the atmosphere. To obtain the necessary data on the spacecraft’s behavior, SpaceX specialists removed even more heat shield tiles from it than last time. Some of them were in places where there was no backup protection. In addition, the spacecraft deliberately entered the atmosphere in such a way as to be subjected to loads at the limit of its capabilities.
Despite all this, Starship successfully completed all tests and splashed down precisely at the designated point in the Indian Ocean, which was recorded by SpaceX drones and automatic buoys. Their footage clearly shows how the color of the spacecraft’s heat shield changed after passing through the atmosphere, as well as damage in places where tiles had been removed. It is interesting to note that despite a more challenging flight profile, Starship sustained less damage than last time.
The next Starship launch will take place in approximately two months. It will be the first to involve the new, even more powerful Block 3 modification. It is expected that SpaceX will use it to test Starship’s landing on the ground and orbital refueling of the spacecraft.
