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During Starship second integrated test flight IFT-2 There is a seemingly rapid attitude change seconds before stage separation, the whole vehicle making a turn towards the right of the image.

What is the reason for this sharp turn?

The course correction is visible in this video, occuring roughly between T+02:22 and T+02:33

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  • $\begingroup$ could be a thrust imbalance during booster throttle-down? interesting question. $\endgroup$
    – Erin Anne
    Nov 19 at 9:07
  • $\begingroup$ Could be they want to use the 13 gimbaling engines with the longer lever arm on the booster to tighten the gravity turn as opposed to the 3 gimbaling engines on the ship. $\endgroup$
    – Jörg W Mittag
    Nov 19 at 11:19
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    $\begingroup$ Rockets typically don't fly at zero angle of attack. I suspect they were zeroing that out before doing the separation. $\endgroup$
    – Christopher James Huff
    Nov 19 at 14:11

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