Starship rocket 'lost' during re-entry through Earth's atmosphere - BBC News
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The blog part has been edited by Aoife Walsh & Alex Binley.
All mentioned timings are in accordance with the United Kingdom.
Space Mission Successful!
We mentioned earlier that evaluating success today would be based on advancement, surpassing the accomplishments made during the first two test flights in the previous year. SpaceX not only achieved that, but exceeded it.
I am confident that Starship will soon become an extremely efficient space launch system.
The escape seemed flawless because 33 motors located at the bottom of the booster ignited successfully, propelling the transportation to the projected area where the Ship uncoupled and continued its journey into the vast expanse of the universe.
The spaceship successfully ascended using its full power, and it stopped using its engines at the right moment. Everything went smoothly up to this point. After this, the spaceship traveled around the planet without any fuel.
The plan was to activate the engine system to re-enter the orbit, but the controllers decided not to do this because the vehicle was already on a favorable path.
The photographs taken during re-entry were absolutely incredible; one could witness the scorching hot gases surrounding the spacecraft. The flaps of the vehicle were also visible, as they attempted to manage the landing descent.
Afterward, the communication signal ceased, which was anticipated due to the challenging and vigorous surroundings. SpaceX declared that the craft was no longer viable. This implies that the Ship disintegrated during descent and was not capable of executing the intended high-velocity nosedive.
However, that's a minor issue to be addressed another time. As the saying goes, "conduct tests at an early stage, find faults, and gain knowledge from them."
We're concluding our reporting for now, but anticipate that SpaceX will soon conduct another trial voyage, potentially up to six more times over the course of this year. Stay tuned for updates on the forthcoming launch.
Third Attempt Successful, No Splashdown
Today's Starship mission was labeled as successful by the SpaceX team. This marked their third attempt at orbiting space. However, during the rocket's re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, connection was lost.
Take a glance at some of the noteworthy advancements made during today's mission:
Starship Launch By SpaceX - A Photo Journey
Photos are now being released of SpaceX's historic rocket launch.
SpaceX conducted their lengthiest and most challenging test flight to date. Observe some of the greatest photographs showcased below:
SpaceX Reports Communication Lost With Starship
According to the SpaceX team, data was lost during the Ship's descent to earth, which implies that a planned controlled splashdown will not occur today.
During its live broadcast, SpaceX expressed amazement at the progress it has made this time around.
It is not unexpected.
When the rocket returns to the atmosphere, it moves at a high speed, which causes it to encounter resistance from the air. This, in turn, leads to the air being unable to move away quickly enough. This situation is akin to when you inflate a bicycle tire; it generates excessive heat, and in the case of the rocket, temperatures could reach up to 1,000C or 2,000C, making it a high-energy environment.
The temperature is higher than the melting point of the steel used to make this rocket.
The high temperature in the atmosphere leads to the creation of plasma around the rocket. This plasma acts as a barrier and hinders the signal transmission from the rocket.
Starship Launches Into Space - Watch Now!
On its third try, the SpaceX Starship triumphantly lifted off from Texas at approximately 1:25 p.m. This comes following two unsuccessful attempts.
Check out this amazing moment when the rocket took off:
NASA Closely Monitoring Starship's Mission
One of the most interested parties in this trial flight is the American space organization, Nasa.
The Starship spacecraft plays a crucial role in accomplishing Nasa's Artemis program of returning astronauts to the Moon by the end of this decade. A particular Starship model will function as the landing module by carrying the crew from lunar orbit to the surface. After their mission, the Starship will fly them back up again to orbit.
Before astronauts are allowed to board, SpaceX must demonstrate that it can create a trustworthy and secure spacecraft.
NASA has designated the latter part of 2026 as the desired timeframe for the return of boots on the Moon.
"Elon Musk Commends SpaceX Team"
Elon Musk praised the SpaceX crew after the Starship rocket successfully travelled through the atmosphere.
"The SpaceX team has successfully achieved orbital velocity! Way to go, Starship!" he exclaims on X.
Progress Looks Promising
Observing from this perspective, the commencement was flawless. Nonetheless, the challenge to tackle next would be surviving the process of returning to Earth.
This is due to the fact that the movements felt while launching are very strong.
When attending a rocket launch, I highly recommend refraining from taking out your phone to record it. Instead, fully immerse yourself in the moment and allow yourself to experience it firsthand.
To start with, when observing the engines at the bottom of the rocket, you'll notice a dazzling light that's so bright it's almost like staring directly into the sun.
And soon enough, there's a low, continuous growling sound that increases in volume as time goes on.
Next, you feel a shaking sensation throughout your entire body.
The stuff carried by a rocket up there goes through the same loud and shaky ride, just like the rocket itself. Therefore, when satellites are created, they are also tested thoroughly in those conditions.
SpaceX's Boldest Flight Test Yet
SpaceX is preparing to carry out some technical demonstrations as the Ship glides along. An aperture will be unsealed on the vehicle, serving as a trial to examine the feasibility of potentially dispensing satellites from it at some point in the future.
This time, SpaceX will only be conducting a mechanism test, and no launch will take place.
Engineers are set to make sure that the Ship can transfer fuel from one tank to another. This process, which happens within the craft, is a significant milestone in developing the capability for Starships to refuel one another while in orbit in the future.
The last scheduled show is the activation of an engine to guide the Ship to the spot in the Indian Ocean where it will touch down.
Starship Rocket Reaching New Frontiers
According to the live stream by the SpaceX team, the Starship rocket has traveled further than any other rocket before.
The report notes that every one of the 33 raptor engines on the Super Heavy were activated, and all six engines on the aircraft powerfully launched it into orbit with success.
SpaceX has stated that for the next hour, they will focus on obtaining maximum knowledge regarding various other systems.
3..2..1.. Liftoff!
Exciting news! The colossal Starship rocket from SpaceX has recently taken off from their Texas launching site.
Stay with us as we keep you informed about its progress. Remember to press the 'play' icon located on our website to watch it in real time.
In a short while, the Starship rocket is scheduled to blast off from SpaceX's Boca Chica, Texas facility with under five minutes remaining.
Many are relying on the rocket's current mission, especially since the previous two attempts were unsuccessful.
To witness the launch, access our live page and simply tap the 'play' icon located at the upper section.
Measuring Success In Today's Test Flight?
The technology of SpaceX is developed in a way that diverges from what many people anticipate.
The approach of the corporation that is located in Texas is to "try out soon, fail, and gain knowledge". SpaceX is not concerned if a product doesn't function flawlessly right away.
You might get caught off guard if the Ship cannot complete its journey and make a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. There's also a possibility of encountering another explosion during the course of the trip.
SpaceX's success will be measured by how well it performs in comparison to its previous encounters with Starship.
This translates to observing an advancement in the mission profile of the booster and ship.
"Flight Route Aims For Splashdown In Indian Ocean"
The flight plan for today is a bit altered compared to the two trial runs performed in the previous year.
Initially, the plan was for the Ship to complete almost an entire rotation around the Earth and finish with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.
On this occasion, the intended route is briefer and the landing is anticipated to be in the southern section of the Indian Ocean, situated to the west of Australia.
Naturally, the initial two trial flights fell short of the Pacific, but the crucial aspect to observe is the "advancement". Basically, how much more successful this undertaking will be compared to its previous endeavors.
Musk's Starship Crucial For Mars Goals
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, has plans for the future of his Starship spaceship that extend over both the short and long run.
In the short run, he requires the ability to lift things up so that he can maintain his Starlink internet network. The network consists of more than 5,500 spacecrafts, and it's necessary to continually add and replace satellites.
The weight of the task will fall under the responsibility of Starship.
In the future, Musk has discussed the idea of transporting individuals to the planet Mars - with the goal of creating a society that occupies multiple planets.
It comes as no surprise that Starship plays a crucial role in turning that aspiration into a tangible achievement.
Starship's Size?
The Starship system is the strongest rocket in history that has the capability to launch into space.
There are 33 engines located at the bottom of the Super Heavy booster which can generate a remarkable 74 meganewtons of thrust. This is a significant advancement compared to all the previous vehicles, even the ones that were responsible for sending people to the Moon way back in the 1960s and 1970s.
SpaceX Starts Filling Propellant
According to SpaceX, the propellant has been loaded and the launch is set to take place at 13:25 GMT (08:25 Texas local time).
SpaceX has confirmed that the Starship team is all set to proceed with the prop load process, however, they are currently monitoring the wind conditions with great caution.
Keep up with us for the most recent updates.
What Occurred On Past Two Flights?
It's understandable if you don't recall precisely what unfolded during the preceding two test flights, as the initial one took place approximately a year ago.
When Starship was first launched in April, it unfortunately did not complete its goal. The rocket went up, but it did not separate and ultimately broke apart only four minutes after taking off. The mission did not travel far and ended up back near the Texas shoreline.
The second flight that occurred in November had a successful takeoff from the launch stand and expertly separated the two sections at the right moment. There were no major issues during this flight.
Yet, the booster faced a mishap as it attempted to veer towards the Texas seaside, resulting in its explosion. Although the Starship persisted for a few moments, it was eventually overcome by a blaze in its engine section. As a result, it was put to rest using explosive charges.
Elon Musk stated that the Integrated Flight Test 3 (IFT3) will have various modifications and advancements.
When Is Starship Launching?
SpaceX made a recent announcement about its plans to launch Starship from its base located in southeast Texas at 13:25 GMT (08:25 local time). However, it is possible that the scheduled time might shift in the near future.
The Starship launch was supposed to happen at noon GMT, but it got postponed a few times.
The organization declared that they need additional time for their staff to clear "several vessels from the restricted zone in the Gulf of Mexico".
Today's Launch: What's The Plan?
If everything proceeds according to plan, Starship will ascend and travel across the Gulf of Mexico towards the Atlantic Ocean and Africa.
The act of separating the stage is critical to a mission and happens when the booster has completed its task and disassembles from the Ship. This crucial point usually takes place approximately two minutes and 44 seconds after the flight begins. As the Ship nears space, it ignites its engines just before separation to sustain its speed and continue its voyage.
SpaceX is planning for the Super Heavy booster to attempt a vertical landing near the shores of Texas, hovering just above the waters of the Gulf. After that, it will be permitted to topple over and ultimately sink.
The vessel will remain active for around 8 minutes and 35 seconds after taking off, before switching off its engines and simply drifting. It's predicted that when this occurs, the craft will be located approximately 150km (93 miles) above our planet and traveling at a staggering speed of over 20,000km/h (12,400mph).
