Starship giant rocket: everything goes according to plan again
After three unsuccessful test flights in a row, SpaceX has now achieved everything that was planned for the tenth launch of the giant Starship rocket.
The successful start
(Image: SpaceX)
After a series of failures, SpaceX has achieved its next success on the tenth test flight of the giant Starship rocket: Following its launch from Texas, the spacecraft completed all planned tasks –, including the deployment of eight Starlink dummies –, before crashing into the Indian Ocean as planned. Elon Musk's space company spoke of an exciting test flight and congratulated all those responsible. SpaceX employees were jubilant at the end of the successful test. The launch had previously been postponed twice, once due to a fault on board and once due to the weather.
According to SpaceX, all 33 engines of the booster worked during the launch of the giant rocket and sent the spacecraft into space. After successful separation, it ignited its own six engines while the booster began its return journey. However, as there were no plans to recapture it this time, it sank towards the Gulf of Mexico, turned around and then fired its engines again to slow down its fall. It then crashed into the water as planned. The spacecraft itself then orbited the Earth in space, deployed the payloads and ignited the engines again for the first time. It then sank towards the Indian Ocean, above which it turned once more before exploding as it dived into the water.
Back on the road to success
With the successful test flight, SpaceX is back on the road to success after several failures. The spacecraft and booster also exploded during the ninth launch, but not all of the planned tests could be carried out at the end of May. This was the third time in a row that the most important objectives were not achieved. However, Elon Musk and SpaceX repeatedly pointed out afterwards that the flights were not real failures because they would learn from the problems. The success they have now achieved seems to prove them right. Nevertheless, the schedule has long since been pushed back considerably, as SpaceX actually wanted to launch the Starship 25 times this year. Only four launches have now been completed.
Videos by heise
The Starship consists of the approximately 70-meter-long "Super Heavy" booster and a 50-meter-long upper stage. The largest rocket in the world is designed in such a way that the spaceship and rocket can be reused after returning to Earth. The rocket is intended to take astronauts to the moon for NASA. SpaceX is also promising flights to Mars. In April 2023, a complete Starship took off for the first time, but only remained intact for a few minutes. Six months later, the second launch attempt was successful before the rocket exploded again. Four more followed in 2024, three of which were successful. It is not yet known when SpaceX will attempt the next launch.
(mho)
