SpaceX’s Starship rocket launched on a test flight Thursday, but the vehicle was destroyed after a successful booster retrieval at the launchpad.
SpaceX described the event as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.” The spacecraft’s six engines seemingly shut down sequentially during ascent, with communication lost approximately 8.5 minutes into the flight.
This new, upgraded Starship model was designed to travel across the Gulf of Mexico from Texas, performing a near-global loop, mirroring previous test flights. Ten dummy satellites were included for deployment practice.
Moments before the loss of the spacecraft, SpaceX’s launch tower arms successfully caught the returning booster – a feat previously accomplished only once. The descending booster briefly hovered before being secured by the tower’s arms, nicknamed “chopsticks.”
The excitement of the successful catch quickly turned to disappointment for SpaceX, and the onlookers in southern Texas.
“The booster recovery was successful, but we’re clearly disappointed about the Starship,” stated SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot. He emphasized, “It’s a flight test. It’s an experimental vehicle.”
Final data from the spacecraft indicated an altitude of 90 miles (146 kilometers) and a velocity of 13,245 mph (21,317 kph).
According to Musk, preliminary analysis suggests a fuel leak might have created pressure buildup above the engine firewall. He stated that fire suppression systems will be added to this area, along with enhanced venting and improved leak detection procedures.
The 400-foot (123-meter) rocket launched in the late afternoon from Boca Chica Beach near the Mexican border. The late launch time ensured daylight conditions for the planned mid-flight point over the Indian Ocean. However, the spacecraft did not reach this point.
The spacecraft had undergone improvements for this test and included several mock satellite payloads. These test satellites were the same size as SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites and, similar to the spacecraft, were intended for destructive entry.
Musk intends to launch actual Starlink satellites on Starships before proceeding to other satellite deployments and, ultimately, crewed missions.
This marked the seventh test flight for the world’s largest and most powerful rocket. NASA has reserved two Starships for lunar astronaut landings later this decade. Musk’s ultimate objective is a Mars mission.
Earlier in Florida, Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, launched its newest large rocket. The rocket reached orbit on its maiden flight, successfully deploying an experimental satellite. However, the first-stage booster was destroyed when it failed to land on a floating platform in the Atlantic.
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