SpaceX's Starship undertakes an orbital mission. Successful launch, but an incomplete journey
SpaceX had an opportunity to conduct an orbital flight with Starship. The spacecraft made an impressive launch on its first space journey but encountered a false start. This is how what was supposed to be a flight attempt ended up becoming a launch trial.
12:22 PM EST, November 20, 2023
Starship is SpaceX's pride and joy. Elon Musk envisages that the biggest rocket ever built will actualize his dream of transporting humans to Mars - swiftly advancing from a pipe dream to a potential reality. NASA also anticipates using this spacecraft. By 2025, Starship is expected to be a fundamental part of the Artemis 3 mission, ferrying astronauts from the transfer hub down to the lunar surface.
However, before any of this happens, Starship must prove its capability. It must successfully break away from Earth, reach Earth's orbit, and demonstrate the possibility of reuse. All components must then be safely returned to Earth, landing in a condition that allows for their recirculation.
Starship Test Flight
Starship's second orbital flight attempt kicked off at 9:00 AM Eastern Time. The launch was broadcast on both the SpaceX website and YouTube.
The launch phase was a true spectacle. The Starship detached from Earth, and within roughly three minutes, the separation of the vehicle's stages ensued.
Watch live! SpaceX Starship rocket to launch on 2nd integrated test flight
The Super Heavy booster split from the upper stage as scheduled, but somewhat violently. The maneuver was successful, but immediately after its completion, Super Heavy exploded.
Following this, Starship, using its engines, reached a speed near that of the required orbit, attempting to maintain the correct trajectory. However, this phase did not turn out successful.
After approximately 9 minutes post-launch, communication with the Starship's upper stage was lost. The circumstances remained uncertain, and eventually, the person conducting the broadcast confirmed that SpaceX had decided to detonate the ship in-flight.
Launch success but without a complete flight and landing
Both SpaceX and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson regarded the attempted orbital flight of Starship as a victory at its initial stages. However, the journey in space or the landing did not occur.
Starship successfully detached from Earth. The separation maneuver was successful, with the upper stage's engines activated as planned and the spacecraft able to continue. The Starship's test flight was scheduled as follows:
However, Super Heavy did not survive. Starship was expected to orbit for approximately an hour. It was planned that after 77 minutes post-launch, the spacecraft would re-enter the atmosphere and begin succumbing to gravity, ultimately aiming to land in the Pacific near Hawaii. Unfortunately, this did not transpire.
Regardless of the unsuccessful attempt, one could not label this a failure. SpaceX made much further progress than in the previous tryout in April. Starship may have been destroyed, but it safely reached an altitude of 92 miles. This means it crossed the Kármán line and is on the right track to becoming a successful spacecraft.
