SpaceX’s Starship Faces Another Setback in Recent Test Flight
SpaceX’s ambitious Starship project encountered another hurdle during its latest test flight. On Thursday, the massive rocket launched from Texas, only to experience a critical failure minutes into its ascent. This incident follows a previous mishap two months ago that sent debris falling over the Turks and Caicos.
As the 403-foot Starship ascended, its first-stage booster successfully returned to the launch pad, caught by SpaceX’s giant mechanical arms. However, the spacecraft’s engines began to fail as it aimed for a controlled descent over the Indian Ocean, resulting in an out-of-control spin and subsequent loss of contact.
Before communication was lost, the Starship reached an altitude of nearly 90 miles. Unfortunately, the test flight, which was expected to last an hour, ended prematurely without deploying its four mock satellites. The debris from the disintegration was visible over Florida, with sightings near Cape Canaveral.
“Unfortunately this happened last time too, so we have some practice at this now,” commented SpaceX flight commentator Dan Huot at the launch site.
SpaceX later confirmed that the spacecraft experienced “a rapid unscheduled disassembly” during the ascent, prompting the team to coordinate with safety officials and implement contingency responses.
This recent setback saw the Starship falling short of its previous altitudes and distances achieved in earlier tests. The spacecraft’s redesign efforts, which included modifications to its flaps, computers, and fuel systems, were intended to facilitate its return to the launch site, similar to the booster recovery process.
In the prior test, while the booster was successfully recovered, the spacecraft exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, causing no injuries or significant damage. An ongoing investigation revealed that leaking fuel led to engine shutdowns and a subsequent self-destruct sequence.
SpaceX has made improvements to the Starship following these incidents, and the Federal Aviation Administration has granted clearance for further launches. The company is also developing another Starship launch site at Cape Canaveral, complementing its existing Falcon rocket operations.
Despite these challenges, SpaceX remains committed to its long-term goals. NASA has contracted Starship to land astronauts on the moon in the upcoming decade, while SpaceX founder Elon Musk envisions using Starship for missions to Mars.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
