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Starship’s faster launch tested its heat-shield tiles
Elon Musk says SpaceX deliberately increased Starship’s acceleration during Flight 13 to stress-test its thermal-protection tiles.
Image: iXBT
SpaceX deliberately pushed Starship to significantly higher acceleration during its 13th test flight, Elon Musk said, explaining why the vehicle appeared to lift off faster than on previous launches.
The higher acceleration was intended to test whether the ship’s updated thermal-protection tiles could remain attached under greater dynamic pressure. Musk said the test was successful.
“Significantly greater acceleration was intentionally achieved during this flight to check how well the thermal-protection tiles would hold up under high dynamic pressure. The test was successful.”
Flight 13 was part of SpaceX’s work to improve Starship as a fully reusable transportation system. The company continues refining the thermal-protection tiles between flights, with the resulting data expected to improve structural reliability and eventually support a higher payload capacity.
SpaceX frame
Musk previously praised the latest version of Starship’s heat shield, saying the spacecraft “looks magnificent,” and explained why SpaceX chose stainless steel for its construction.
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During Flight 13, Starship also completed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean and, for the first time, remained intact after returning. Musk said SpaceX plans to attempt another first on the next flight: catching the Ship upper stage with the mechanical arms—known as “chopsticks”—of the Mechazilla launch tower.
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