SpaceX successfully launched its fourth Starship test flight from Boca Chica, Texas. This positive event adds to the list of two failed attempts recorded in 2023 and another in March 2024, all of which faced several technical challenges. The latest test saw the Starship return to Earth in a controlled manner, landing in the Indian Ocean just over an hour after liftoff.
The Starship test
The launch at 7:50 AM local time marked an important event, particularly because the Super Heavy booster managed to land on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The Super Heavy booster executed a “soft splashdown” near Boca Chica approximately six minutes after launch. Meanwhile, the Starship capsule’s journey lasted just over an hour, culminating in a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
Previous attempts in 2023 failed to achieve their objectives: the first attempt resulted in an explosion shortly after liftoff, and in the second, the two stages failed to separate, leading controllers to intentionally detonate the rocket. The main objective of this fourth flight was not only to reach orbit, but to demonstrate the reusability of Starship and Super Heavy, including a controlled reentry.
Other Starship tests
The previous attempt in March 2024 succeeded in reaching the limits of the atmosphere, but failed during the descent from an altitude of 160 kilometers at a speed of 26,000 km/h. None of the stages returned successfully. However, this latest launch, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA), paves the way for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
SpaceX has announced additional testing of Starship scheduled for this year. The vehicle is designed for long-range missions, with the capability to carry crew and large payloads. NASA has selected Starship for the Artemis III mission, with the goal of carrying astronauts to the Moon in 2026, registering as the first such mission in more than fifty years.
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Source: Space News
Photo: SpaceX
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