SpaceX’s Starship, touted as the world’s most potent rocket, soared higher and faster than ever during its third test flight on Thursday, yet met an unfortunate fate upon re-entering the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean, the company reported.
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The launch from SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, captured the attention of millions worldwide as it streamed live on social media platform X. This sleek mega rocket plays a pivotal role in NASA’s mission to land astronauts on the Moon in the coming decade, as well as Elon Musk’s ambitious vision of human colonization on Mars.
Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated SpaceX on Twitter for the successful test flight, marking a significant milestone despite the subsequent setback.
With previous attempts ending in dramatic explosions, all eyes were on Thursday’s launch. However, SpaceX’s strategy of rapid trial and error to accelerate development has yielded numerous successes in the past.
The third test flight, featuring Starship in its fully stacked configuration, saw the rocket achieving several objectives. Notably, it successfully demonstrated the opening and closing of Starship’s payload door, crucial for satellite deployment into orbit.
Footage from onboard cameras showcased Starship’s journey through space, reaching speeds exceeding 26,000 kilometers per hour and soaring to an altitude of over 200 kilometers above sea level. However, signals were lost as it descended over the Indian Ocean, failing to achieve its final goal of a splashdown.
Despite the setback, SpaceX remains committed to its vision of interplanetary life, with Musk emphasizing the progress made. Real-world testing has been integral to SpaceX’s approach, with previous iterations facing challenges but paving the way for advancements.
The clock is ticking for SpaceX as it aims to meet NASA’s deadlines for lunar missions. With China also eyeing a lunar landing by 2030, SpaceX must demonstrate the capability to safely launch, fly, and land Starship, a crucial component for future missions to the Moon and beyond.
