SpaceX carried out another test flight of its Starship rocket on Thursday, marking a mixed outcome: a successful booster recovery followed by the destruction of the spacecraft shortly afterward.
According to SpaceX, the Starship experienced what they described as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” mid-flight. The spacecraft’s six engines appeared to power down sequentially during its ascent, with communication lost just 8 ½ minutes into the mission.
This test involved a newly upgraded version of Starship, embarking on its first trial flight. The rocket was programmed to travel across the Gulf of Mexico from Texas in a trajectory that would mimic a near-global orbit, similar to earlier test missions. SpaceX also included ten dummy satellites on board to simulate deployment procedures.
A significant highlight of the mission occurred just before the loss of the spacecraft: the booster was successfully captured using the launch tower’s mechanical arms, known as “chopsticks.” The booster hovered precisely over the pad and was secured, achieving a feat that has only been accomplished once before.
However, excitement over the booster recovery turned to disappointment after the spacecraft’s destruction. Tourists on the Turks and Caicos Islands managed to record video footage of debris streaking across the sky, leaving a vivid trail of smoke.
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot remarked, “It was great to see a booster come down, but we are obviously bummed out about the ship. It’s a flight test. It’s an experimental vehicle,” emphasizing the nature of such trials.
SpaceX Starship Launch (Photo: AP)
The final telemetry received from Starship indicated it had reached an altitude of 90 miles (146 kilometers) and was traveling at a velocity of 13,245 mph (21,317 kph).
Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, later noted via X (formerly Twitter) that initial assessments pointed to leaking fuel, which may have led to a pressure buildup in a cavity above the engine firewall. He outlined plans to improve fire suppression systems in that area, increase venting, and conduct more rigorous checks for leaks.
The 400-foot (123-meter) Starship had launched late in the afternoon from Boca Chica Beach, near the Mexican border. The timing was designed to allow a daylight entry for the spacecraft halfway around the globe in the Indian Ocean. However, the mission ended far short of its intended goal.
SpaceX had incorporated numerous upgrades into this version of Starship, including a set of test satellites designed to replicate the size and function of the company’s Starlink internet satellites. Both the satellites and the spacecraft were planned to disintegrate upon reentry.
Musk envisions launching actual Starlink satellites aboard Starships in the near future, followed by additional payloads and, eventually, crewed missions.
This marked the seventh test flight of Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed. NASA has already contracted SpaceX to use Starship for two missions to land astronauts on the Moon later this decade, while Musk’s ultimate ambition is to enable human travel to Mars.
In a coincidental development earlier in the day, Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, conducted its own launch in Florida. Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket successfully achieved orbit during its inaugural flight, deploying an experimental satellite thousands of miles above Earth. However, its first-stage booster was lost after it missed its designated landing on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean.
