SpaceX’s Starship test flight ends in explosions again, 8 minutes after reaching space

SpaceX’s high-stakes test flight of the Starship developed to carry astronauts to the moon and beyond, faced a turbulent end as both the spacecraft and booster were lost in explosions merely minutes after liftoff from South Texas. The ambitious flight, though reaching space, encountered a catastrophic failure that halted its trajectory on Saturday.

The rocket, standing tall at nearly 400 feet (121 metres), took off and soared, with the booster and the spacecraft successfully separating as planned. However, at approximately three minutes into the flight, the separated booster met a fiery end over the Gulf of Mexico.

The spacecraft, aiming for an around-the-world trajectory, faced communication loss just as it was concluding its engine firing sequence, leading to its destruction via the ship’s self-destruct system.

The eight-minute flight managed to surpass its predecessor in April, which ended in a similar explosion merely four minutes after liftoff. Despite the loss, SpaceX expressed satisfaction in achieving an extended flight duration and acquiring valuable data for future improvements.

Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder, witnessed the launch at the Boca Chica Beach site in Texas. The company’s headquarters in California initially cheered the liftoff but turned solemn as it became evident that the mission would not achieve its intended success.

SpaceX engineers highlighted the more than a thousand modifications made to the Starship following the failed April attempt, aiming to rectify the issues encountered previously. The Federal Aviation Administration’s clearance for flights earlier in the week signified compliance with safety standards.

The mission plan aimed for an altitude of 150 miles (240 kilometres) before the rocket’s descent into the Pacific near Hawaii, falling short of completing a full orbit around the Earth. SpaceX’s endeavours to propel human space travel beyond Earth, particularly to the moon and Mars, have met hurdles in the test phase, prompting further refinements and improvements for future attempts.

Read also: SpaceX ready to launch Starship, the ‘strongest rocket ever built’ into space

Positives from the failed launch

Despite an unsuccessful attempt the second time, NASA’s head of space agency, Bill Nelson, has congratulated the SpaceX team for an improved outing compared to the one in April. In a tweet made on social media platform X, he noted that Spaceflight was a bold adventure, and only those with a can-do spirit can achieve daring innovations.

In a similar vein, SpaceX commentator John Insprucker says the failed launch was a welcomed positive. “The real topping on the cake today, that successful liftoff,” he says.

What you should know about the world’s most powerful rocket

The Starship is the largest rocket ever built that the company hopes will one day help in the colonisation of Mars and the Moon. Its Super Heavy booster produces 74.3 meganewtons of thrust, almost double that of the world’s second-most powerful rocket, NASA’s Space Launch System.

In 2018, Musk first tweeted about the project, adding that the project’s goal is to allow movement from the “moon, Mars and outer planets.” This idea of Starship construction and motive can be considered human settlement on the red planets.

“Starship is the first vehicle that is able to execute Musk’s vision of making humanity multi-planetary,” said Caleb Henry, director of research at Quilty Analytics, a space consulting firm. So in a way, it’s all been building to this point.”

However, the test launch of the most talked-about rocket by his company, SpaceX, went into flames in April this year, with media coverage showing images of the Starship spinning out of control while attached to its Super Heavy rocket booster before the entire vehicle exploded.

The relaunch of the rocket was carried out last Saturday following approval for flights earlier in the week from the Federal Aviation Administration, indicating adherence to safety regulations.