SpaceX’s mega rocket Starship launched on its ninth demo from Starbase, Texas, but fell short of objectives when it tumbled out of control and broke apart after a series of explosions. The 403-foot rocket blasted off despite some technical issues, including a door that failed to open properly and fuel leaks.
As expected, the spacecraft spun uncontrollably before landing in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX confirmed that the vehicle “rapidly disassembled” due to these issues. Despite the setback, CEO Elon Musk hailed it as an improvement over previous demos, which ended in flaming debris.
Musk promised a faster launch pace moving forward, with Starship launching every three to four weeks for the next three flights. This was the first time one of his Starships flew with a recycled booster. However, contact with the booster was lost at one point, and it crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.
The failure left SpaceX without achieving its heat shield test objectives during controlled reentry. Communication ceased before the spacecraft landed, and the webcast ended soon after. The Federal Aviation Administration had cleared Starship for another flight just last week, expanding the hazard area and pushing liftoff outside peak air travel times.
SpaceX has modified the latest spacecraft’s thermal tiles and installed special catch fittings to capture future versions back at the pad. NASA is counting on SpaceX to make major strides over the next year with Starship to land astronauts back on the moon in 2027, with a mission that will fly around the moon but not land.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/spacex-starship-rocket-tumbles-out-of-control-after-launch