test flight

SpaceX Starship lost on return to Earth after completing most of test flight

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SpaceX Starship lost on return to Earth after completing most of test flight

SpaceX’s Starship rocket, aimed at future astronaut missions to the moon and beyond, nearly completed a full test flight on its third attempt, cruising through low orbit before being destroyed upon return to Earth. The spacecraft lost communication during atmospheric re-entry and was presumed lost either due to burning up, disintegration, or crashing into the sea. Despite this, the test marked a significant step in the development of Starship, crucial for both SpaceX’s satellite launch business and NASA’s moon program. The two-stage spacecraft, composed of the Starship vessel and Super Heavy rocket booster, launched from Texas, reaching altitudes of 145 miles (234 km). SpaceX’s approach involves pushing spacecraft to failure to refine improvements, indicating Starship is still far from operational readiness. Elon Musk envisions Starship for lunar and Mars missions and as a replacement for the Falcon 9 rocket in commercial launches.

SpaceX Starship disintegrates after completing most of third test flight

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SpaceX Starship disintegrates after completing most of third test flight

SpaceX’s Starship rocket, aimed for moon and beyond missions, nearly completed a test flight but disintegrated upon re-entry to Earth. This was its third attempt, achieving further progress than previous tries. The spacecraft lost communication during re-entry near the Indian Ocean, an hour after launching from Texas. Despite not attempting a core objective of re-igniting one of its engines, the test flight achieved several goals including successful stage separation, payload door operation in orbit, and propellant transfer in space. However, it failed to demonstrate the return of its Super Heavy rocket booster, a key part of SpaceX’s reusability strategy. SpaceX plans at least six more test flights this year, pending regulatory approval. The company must report and correct failures before each new flight as per Federal Aviation Administration requirements. Starship is central to SpaceX’s future goals and NASA’s Artemis moon program.