19-11-2023 (TEXAS) SpaceX’s ambitious spacecraft, Starship, designed to transport astronauts to the moon and beyond, encountered a setback on Saturday as it failed during its second test flight. However, it managed to surpass its earlier attempt, which ended in an explosion.
The two-stage rocketship took off from SpaceX’s Starbr launch site near Boca Chica, Texas, reaching an altitude of 90 miles (148 km) above the ground on a planned 90-minute test mission to space and back.
While the Super Heavy first stage booster successfully separated from the core Starship stage, it exploded over the Gulf of Mexico shortly after detachment, as shown in a SpaceX webcast.
Meanwhile, the core Starship stage continued its ascent, but minutes later, mission control lost contact with the vehicle, as announced by SpaceX engineer and livestream host John Insprucker. It was believed that an automated flight termination command triggered the destruction of the rocket, although the exact reason remained unclear.
Approximately eight minutes into the test mission, a camera view captured an explosion indicating a failure of the Starship booster at an altitude of 91 miles (148 km).
This launch marked the second attempt to launch Starship atop its towering Super Heavy rocket booster, following an unsuccessful April test that ended in an explosion four minutes after liftoff.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), responsible for overseeing commercial launch sites, confirmed the mishap, resulting in the loss of the vehicle, but no injuries or property damage were reported. The FAA will conduct an investigation into the testing failure and must approve SpaceX’s future launch plans to ensure prevention of similar incidents.
The objective of the mission was to launch Starship in Texas and bring it back to Earth, just short of reaching orbit, before splashing down off the coast of Hawaii. Initially scheduled for Friday, the launch was delayed by a day due to a last-minute swap of flight-control hardware.
Testing failures for Starship could pose a setback for SpaceX, as the FAA will review the company’s failure investigation and assess its application for a new launch license. SpaceX has expressed frustration with the lengthy regulatory review process.
However, the failure aligns with SpaceX’s risk-tolerant culture, which emphasizes rapid testing and iteration to accelerate design and engineering improvements. Carissa Christensen, CEO of space analytics firm BryceTech, noted that despite the setback, the test showcased several successful elements and significant new capabilities.
At an altitude of approximately 43 miles (70 km), the rocket system successfully executed the crucial separation maneuver between the two stages, a challenge it had failed to overcome in the previous test. The Super Heavy booster was intended to plunge into the Gulf of Mexico while the core Starship booster continued its journey into space using its own engines.
The Super Heavy booster exploded moments after separation, followed by the explosion of the core Starship stage. SpaceX posted on social media platform X, stating that “success comes from what we learn,” and highlighting that the core Starship stage’s engines operated for several minutes during the ascent.
A successful test would have been a significant milestone for SpaceX, as it strives to develop a large, versatile spacecraft capable of transporting humans and cargo back to the moon in collaboration with NASA’s Artemis program and eventually reaching Mars.
SpaceX’s safety culture and rapid development ethos have faced scrutiny after a Reuters investigation revealed numerous injuries at the company’s U.S. manufacturing and launch sites.
NASA, SpaceX’s primary customer, has a vested interest in the success of Starship, as it plays a crucial role in the agency’s plans to land humans on the moon through the Artemis program. NASA Chief Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of learning from the test failure and moving forward.
Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder, CEO, and chief engineer, envisions Starship as the future centerpiece of the company’s launch business, replacing the Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX already dominates the global satellite launch market.
Time is of the essence for SpaceX, as NASA has set timelines for moon missions, and Starship is a key component in their plans. Jaret Matthews, CEO of lunar rover startup Astrolab, who has booked space on a future Starship flight, expects SpaceX to quickly resume testing after the recent setback. However, the pace of testing will largely depend on the FAA’s review and the extent of the technical challenges faced by Starship.
“I think people will be shocked by the cadence that emerges next year,” Matthews said, referring to SpaceX’s anticipated rapid testing schedule.
Watch Starship’s second integrated flight test → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK https://t.co/cahoRQ72lm
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023
