SpaceX’s Starship megarocket recently completed its ninth test flight, with the latest mission delivering stunning visuals from liftoff to breakup. The test took place at SpaceX’s Starbase site in South Texas and showcased the rocket’s capabilities before it broke apart over the Gulf of Mexico.
During the mission, two separate photos were shared by SpaceX on X, capturing the rocket’s ascent into space and its subsequent separation from the Super Heavy booster. One image showed the Super Heavy falling away from the upper stage as orange flames licked at its top, with the blue curve of Earth visible in the background.
However, the test was not without its challenges. The Super Heavy booster did not return to Starbase for a planned “hard splashdown” due to in-flight experiments conducted by SpaceX. Instead, it was steered toward a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico for safety reasons. Unfortunately, the vehicle broke apart just six minutes and 20 seconds after liftoff.
The Starship upper stage also experienced technical difficulties, tumbling about 30 minutes after launch due to a suspected propellant leak. The rocket’s contact with Starship was lost at approximately 46 minutes into the flight, with all debris expected to fall within the planned hazard area in the Indian Ocean.
Despite the setback, SpaceX is committed to refining its Starship technology. According to the company, data review and analysis are underway, with plans to implement improvements and return the rocket to the launch pad soon. The ultimate goal of the Starship program remains to enable humanity’s multiplanetary existence, with the development of the most powerful rocket ever built playing a crucial role in achieving this objective.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/starship-in-space-see-amazing-photos-from-spacex-megarockets-flight-9-test-mission