SpaceX's Starship soars as next mission eyes lunar milestone
As part of the fifth test, SpaceX's Starship rocket was launched from the Boca Chica base in the U.S. The plan includes the Super Heavy booster's return to the launch site and a water landing of the Starship in the Indian Ocean. This mission is crucial for future flights to the Moon and Mars.
10:41 AM EDT, October 13, 2024
During this test, the company intended to manage the return of the Super Heavy booster to the launch site, attempt to catch it, and execute a water landing of the Starship in the Indian Ocean, west of Australia.
Design and objectives of Starship
The Starship rocket comprises two main parts: the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft. Its purpose is not only to deliver heavy loads to orbit at reduced costs but also to play a key role in future missions to the Moon and Mars. Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, envisions the Starship enabling regular transport connections with the Moon. The colonization of Mars is also on the agenda for the future. NASA has high expectations for this SpaceX project, aiming to send astronauts to the Moon as part of the Artemis 3 mission in 2026.
Progress of previous tests
To date, four tests of the mega-rocket have been conducted. The first one in April 2023 ended with the spacecraft's explosion about 4 minutes after liftoff when the Super Heavy booster failed to separate. The following attempt in November 2023 also failed—the rocket's upper stage detached but subsequently exploded.
During the third flight in March 2024, the Starship re-entered the atmosphere from outer space, providing engineers with valuable data despite the spacecraft's destruction. In the fourth test on June 6, the booster separated as planned, falling into the Gulf of Mexico. The Starship survived re-entry and was successfully water-landed.
