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April (IFT-1) · 2023

Starship IFT-1 — First Integrated Flight Test

Validated the core architecture for lunar/Mars capability under NASA Artemis contracts. Raptor engine: full-flow staged combustion (high performance). 3 versions iterated publicly. 'Fly, learn, repeat.'

Starship's First Integrated Flight Test — official SpaceX footage

IFT-1 (Apr 2023): First integrated launch of Super Heavy booster + Starship upper stage from Starbase, Texas. Successful liftoff, data-rich RUD — rapid unscheduled disassembly — but validated many systems. Development cadence: prototypes (SN series) 2020–2022 with hop tests. Integrated Flight Test (IFT) series begins. Challenges overcome: pad explosions, tile heat shield iterations, engine reliability, regulatory (FAA licenses), environmental consultations.

Source: spacex.com

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