SpaceX’s Starship recently completed its 9th flight test, marking a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to send humans to Mars. However, the test also revealed some issues that need to be addressed before the ambitious goal of a moon landing in 2027 can be achieved.
During the test, the rocket experienced a booster explosion during the landing burn phase, which raised concerns about its performance and reliability. Despite this setback, SpaceX’s CEO Elon Musk remains optimistic about the project’s progress, stating that his team will launch their largest Starship yet this year.
Other space-related news includes a possible new dwarf planet discovery, a vertical takeoff and splashdown test by Chinese company Sepoch, and Japan’s robotic lander Resilience preparing for a lunar touchdown. Additionally, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has successfully completed its first mission using a backup fuel line.
The latest episode of This Week in Space podcast dives into the challenges facing Starship and explores what this means for humanity’s plans to explore Mars in the near future. Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik as they discuss the trials of Starship, from what went right to what went wrong, and how the prospects for a successful moon landing are shaping up.
Source: https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/this-week-in-space-podcast-episode-163-the-trials-of-starship