Despite problems, SpaceX hails progress after third test of Starship rocket
Space exploration company SpaceX has just finished its best test yet of Starship, the most potent rocket worldwide. However, the unmanned spaceship didn't survive the landing as it got obliterated upon re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
The third trial flight of the Starship rockets was executed last Thursday. This was done as preparation for future NASA missions that aim to send astronauts to the moon.
Elon Musk, a technology entrepreneur, founded and owns SpaceX, a company that shared a live video of its recent Starship experiment. The company mentioned that this spaceship flew a longer distance and at a higher speed than its two previous tests.
Nonetheless, while the rocket was making its way back to Earth, it encountered an issue where it was unable to communicate with the scientists at SpaceX. The livestream abruptly came to a halt, and the last image displayed showcased the rocket's heat shield blazing due to friction. Later on, the SpaceX officials confirmed that the craft did not endure through the final phase of its journey and was anticipated to collide with the Indian Ocean.
Soon after the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States stated that it would look into the unsuccessful re-entry of the spacecraft. This is something that is usually done whenever there is a problem with a space flight.
Although Starship is still in its prototype stage, its progress is crucial for both NASA's intended lunar expeditions and Musk's personal ambitions of interplanetary transportation.
Bill Nelson, the head of NASA, labeled the recent test flight on SpaceX's social media platform X as a triumph. Chiefly, he acknowledged the anticipated employment of SpaceX technology during NASA's upcoming Artemis moon excursions.
"As a team, we are advancing significantly with Artemis program to bring humanity back to the Moon - and then proceed towards exploring Mars," his statement read.
Musk was also pleased with the successful test flight that took place on X and expressed his excitement by stating that "Starship will lead humanity to the planet Mars."
The Starship has taken off! See the incredible launch in this photo.
On March 14, 2024, SpaceX tweeted about their plans.
Perfecting Earth's Mightiest Rocket
Although still undergoing tests, Starship is deemed a significant development in rocket technology due to its status as the most sizeable and potent vessel of its type.
The Super Heavy booster rocket generates a huge amount of force, almost 16.7 million pounds or 74.3 meganewtons, which is almost twice as much as the NASA's Space Launch System, the second most powerful rocket in the world.
With all the parts put together, Starship reaches a staggering height of 121 meters (397 feet).
The initial two attempts of the rocket failed as they were broadcasted live and exploded after a brief takeoff. This caused unease regarding technical drawbacks with the large-scale rocket and raised doubts about the estimated schedule for the joint venture with NASA.
In April 2023, SpaceX attempted its first test launch but unfortunately, the rocket exploded just minutes after takeoff due to a malfunction where the booster rocket and second-stage engine failed to detach.
During the second trial flight that took place in November, the rocket detach itself from the spacecraft, however, they both burst into pieces above the sea.
SpaceX emphasized that they didn't anticipate a successful outcome in these initial tests since the Starship model is still being improved.
Congratulations to @SpaceX for a triumphant test run! The Starship has launched into the sky. Working alongside Artemis, we are making noteworthy progress in bringing humans back to the Moon, and then onto Mars. https://t.co/VXq8Vp1sAc
On March 14, 2024, Senator Bill Nelson shared a tweet on his Twitter account.
The company achieved a significant milestone with Thursday's test, which was launched from a location near Boca Chica Village on the Gulf Coast of southern Texas.
Thursday's Starship had a much better outcome compared to the last two tests that failed just minutes after takeoff. This time, the spacecraft was able to complete a majority of its flight path that lasted over an hour.
According to SpaceX, the Starship succeeded in completing various significant goals during its recent flight. This included testing its capability to transport satellites and other goods into space by opening and shutting its payload door.
The Starship traveled for half of the world's circumference before it started coming down to a lower altitude. During this journey, it reached a maximum velocity of over 26,000 kilometers per hour or 16,000 miles per hour. Additionally, it ascended above an altitude of 200 kilometers or 125 miles.
The footage captured from an onboard camera displayed the ship activating its engines while in space, revealing the contour of the Earth in the backdrop.
The team responsible for managing the flight reported that they lost contact with Starship when it reached a height of 65km (around 40 miles) above sea level. Those commentating on the live video stream from the company then sadly announced that the spacecraft was deemed "lost," unable to achieve its intended objective of a controlled landing in water.
SpaceX has opted to conduct tests in actual environments as opposed to testing within laboratories. However, this decision has resulted in criticisms from different conservation groups as they express concern that the launches and debris may cause harm to the delicate habitats situated around the Starship locations.
Last May, several organizations, such as the Center for Biological Diversity and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe, filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration. The lawsuit targeted the agency's decision to approve SpaceX's tests, claiming that it had not done enough to evaluate their impact on the environment before granting permission.
Despite this, SpaceX has persisted in conducting test launches, which has helped it become a leading contender in the developing space travel industry.
NASA currently depends on the Falcon 9 rockets from SpaceX to launch things into space. They sometimes use SpaceX's Dragon Freedom capsule along with it to transport people to the International Space Station (ISS).
Another service offered by SpaceX is their network of satellites, known as Starlink. This system enables a range of countries to benefit from fast internet connections and various other forms of connectivity.
However, SpaceX is under a lot of pressure to get Starship ready for NASA's upcoming missions to land astronauts on the moon by 2026. They are considering using a version of Starship that has been altered to serve as the lander.
China is aiming to send its first team to the moon by 2030, indicating that a contemporary contest in space exploration might be on the horizon.
