Starship flight test 6

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/starship-flight-test-6

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the flight designation?Starship Flight Test 6 (FT6)
2. What is the vehicle configuration tested?Ship 31 (upper stage) and Booster 13 (first stage)
3. What was special about Starship Flight Test 6?It was the first test that focused on how the Starship re‑enters the atmosphere and lands, not just reaching a high altitude. The data helped engineers learn how the rocket behaves when it comes back down.
4. Why did the Starship try a steeper re‑entry angle?A steeper angle lets the engineers test the control flaps at higher speeds and angles. This shows if the vehicle can stay steady and avoid tumbling during a fast descent.

Dynamic Pressure: The pressure exerted by a fluid (like air) on an object moving through it.
Angle of Attack: The angle between a wing or flap and the oncoming airflow.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): Computer simulations used to analyze fluid flow and heat transfer.
Deorbit Burn: A controlled rocket engine firing to reduce orbital velocity and initiate atmospheric re-entry.