2024-11-20 01:18:00
“Starship“, the largest rocket ever built, completed its sixth test flight on Tuesday. The goal of sending the lower rocket stage back to the spaceport in Texas was missed. The space company SpaceX nevertheless celebrated progress. Its company founder, Elon Musk, met the future US President Donald Trump during the test – whose government advisor he is to become and whose plans to conquer space he shares.
During its approximately one-hour trip, the unmanned “Starship” reached a height of almost 200 kilometers and speeds of over 25,000 kilometers per hour before making a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX emphasized that the spacecraft had been tested beyond the limits of its intended load capacity and that it had held up.
First stage retrieval failed
SpaceX did not manage to repeat the maneuver from October 13th. At that time, in a world first, the first propulsion stage of the rocket system was successfully recovered after it had transported the space shuttle into space. This time it didn’t work; the booster landed in a controlled and gentle manner in the Gulf of Mexico a few minutes after takeoff.
This time, the re-ignition of a drive in space was successful, which is important for future regular missions. SpaceX also wanted to conduct a series of maneuvers and experiments with the spacecraft’s heat shield.
Setbacks and breakthroughs in previous launches
During a first test in April 2023, the entire rocket system exploded after a few minutes. The two rocket stages separated in November 2023, but exploded shortly afterwards. During a third test in March, the “Starship” reached space for the first time, but was also unable to complete the flight as hoped.
During a fourth test flight in June, the “Starship” made a controlled landing for the first time, but it didn’t go quite as hoped. SpaceX always emphasizes that the goal of the tests is to collect data. Last month, the Starship reached space altitude and made a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean. In addition, this test was the first attempt to catch the lower rocket stage directly at the launch tower in Texas using gripper arms – which was also successful.
Moon and Mars in sight
The “Starship” consists of the approximately 70 meter long “Super Heavy” booster and the upper stage, also called “Starship”, which measures around 50 meters. It was designed to enable manned missions to the Moon and Mars. Both the rocket and spacecraft are designed to be reusable after returning to Earth.
The entire system is around 120 meters long and will be able to transport loads of over 100 tons in the future. NASA plans to send astronauts to the moon with the Starship, while SpaceX aims to one day reach Mars with the system.
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What were the key milestones achieved during SpaceX’s sixth test flight of the Starship despite the first stage retrieval issues?
**Interview with Jamie Carter, Aerospace Analyst**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Jamie. SpaceX’s latest test flight of the Starship included a significant milestone, even though the first stage retrieval did not go as planned. Can you give us a brief overview of what happened during this flight?
**Jamie Carter:** Absolutely! On Tuesday, Starship completed its sixth test flight, reaching an impressive altitude of nearly 200 kilometers and speeds exceeding 25,000 kilometers per hour. While SpaceX was aiming to return the lower rocket stage to their Texas spaceport, they missed that goal this time around. However, they still celebrated the flight as a success because the spacecraft demonstrated remarkable performance by withstanding stresses beyond its intended limits and safely landed in the Indian Ocean.
**Editor:** The failure to retrieve the first stage seems noteworthy, especially after the successful recovery in October. What do you think went wrong this time?
**Jamie Carter:** It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact issues without detailed telemetry, but it’s not uncommon for test flights to have their fair share of challenges. The conditions and technical parameters can vary from one flight to another. SpaceX has always been transparent about learning from each test, and although retrieval did not succeed this time, the data obtained will be invaluable for future iterations.
**Editor:** Notably, during this test, Elon Musk met with future US President Donald Trump. What significance do you think this meeting holds for SpaceX and the broader aerospace industry?
**Jamie Carter:** This meeting is quite significant. Trump’s administration has historically emphasized space exploration, and with Musk joining as an advisor, we might see more collaborative efforts between private space companies and government agendas moving forward. Musk’s vision aligns closely with ambitious goals for space, and this partnership could accelerate various projects, possibly even regaining focus on lunar and Martian missions.
**Editor:** That’s an interesting perspective. In light of this flight, what do you think the future holds for SpaceX and its ambitions to reach Mars?
**Jamie Carter:** SpaceX has set the bar high with its plans for Mars colonization, and despite the setbacks, their continuous innovations and testing signify a relentless pursuit of that goal. As they refine their technology, including the Starship, I expect to see more milestones achieved, paving the way towards making human life on Mars a reality.
**Editor:** Thank you, Jamie, for sharing those insights on SpaceX’s latest test flight and its implications for the future of space exploration.
**Jamie Carter:** My pleasure! I’m always excited to discuss the fascinating developments in space technology. Thank you for having me.
