Starship doesn’t survive Max Q
The megarocket breezed through Max Q during its inaugural flight and is expected to repeat this performance during its next launch. If there’s any reason for concern, it’s that the rocket is not structurally the same as it was during the previous launch. Starship now boasts a hot staging ring, slightly raising the height of the entire structure from 394 feet (120 meters) to 397 feet (121 meters).
Max Q describes the point during the rocket’s ascent when it experiences the maximum dynamic pressure. This is a critical phase because the combination of the rocket’s velocity and the atmospheric density at that altitude exerts the greatest stress on the vehicle’s structure. With the Starship’s altered structure due to the new hot staging ring and increased height, the dynamics during this phase could be different, presenting a unique challenge for the upcoming launch. Starship is expected to reach Max Q at the 52-second mark.
