SpaceX's Second Attempt to Launch Starship
Date: 2023-11-18 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: TECHNOLOGY
SpaceX's Recent Launch of Starship
On Saturday, November 18, American company SpaceX conducted its second test launch of the Starship rocket system, intended for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Launch Details and Outcome
The Starship took off from SpaceX's launch site in Texas, USA, at 15:03 Kyiv time. Within three minutes, the first stage (Super Heavy) of the rocket system detached from the second stage - the spacecraft (Ship 25), followed by an explosion in the air just seconds later.
Unexpected Developments
Initial expectations suggested that the second stage of the Starship system would reach speeds close to orbital velocity and then make a controlled descent into the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii approximately 90 minutes after liftoff.
Communication Loss and Suspected Failure
However, approximately 10 minutes after liftoff, SpaceX reported a loss of communication with Ship 25 during its flight, suggesting a potential malfunction or failure of the spacecraft.
Previous Attempts and FAA Approval
Earlier this year, SpaceX had its inaugural test flight of the Starship in April, which encountered an explosion shortly after liftoff. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted SpaceX a license for conducting the second test launch of the Starship rocket system.
The recent attempt marked SpaceX's ongoing efforts to advance space exploration technologies despite setbacks, aiming to pave the way for future missions beyond Earth's orbit.
