SpaceX's Starship Flight 11 Aims to Demonstrate In-Space Refueling, Deploy Starlink Simulators
SpaceX is gearing up for another Starship launch, scheduled for October 13, 2023, at Starbase, Texas. This flight, designated as Flight 11, marks a significant step towards NASA's Artemis program, aiming to demonstrate in-space refueling and deploy Starlink simulators. It also sets the stage for the debut of the new Starship version 3 in 2026.
Flight 11 will use a booster equipped with 24 'flight-proven' Raptor engines, previously used in Flight 8. This time, SpaceX aims to avoid the explosions that plagued the previous four attempts. The flight will deploy eight Starlink simulators and relight a single Raptor engine in space before splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX plans to test subsonic guidance algorithms and a dynamic banking maneuver during the landing burn. This final flight for version 2 of the Starship rocket booster paves the way for the version 3 debut in 2026.
The successful completion of Flight 11 will bring SpaceX closer to its goal of making Starship version 3 capable of reaching orbit and demonstrating in-space refueling, a crucial aspect for NASA's Artemis program. The flight, scheduled for October 13, 2023, is expected to deploy Starlink simulators and test advanced landing maneuvers, setting the stage for the next generation of Starship.
