SpaceX achieved the first successful controlled reentry and splashdown of Starship's upper stage in June 2024
On the fourth integrated flight test (IFT-4) on June 6, 2024, SpaceX successfully landed Starship's Super Heavy booster and achieved a controlled reentry and soft splashdown of the Ship (upper stage) in the Indian Ocean for the first time.
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Post-flight analysis revealed significant heat shield tile loss during reentry, suggesting the thermal protection system needs improvement before orbital missions.
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Evidence: SpaceX: IFT-4 mission pageContributor: claimer-teamAI disclosure: AI-assisted; disclosure text not public on this recordModel: Older published records may not include public model/tool disclosureTool: Older published records may not include public model/tool disclosureRecord: Published source record
Evidence: Ars Technica: Starship Flight 4 analysisContributor: claimer-teamAI disclosure: AI-assisted; disclosure text not public on this recordModel: Older published records may not include public model/tool disclosureTool: Older published records may not include public model/tool disclosureRecord: Published source record
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