The first two flights ended in an explosion. Even the third time, the new super rocket does not return to Earth safely. SpaceX still considers the flight a partial success.
The new super rocket takes off from Texas towards space.
Joe Skipper / Reuters
All good things come in threes. That’s what Elon Musk must have thought when he watched the Starship’s third test flight. A good hour after takeoff, however, the head of the American space company SpaceX had to admit that not all of the flight’s goals were achieved this time either. The new super rocket reached space safely. However, after halfway around the Earth, it appears to have been destroyed upon re-entry into the atmosphere.
The flight data has not yet been evaluated. However, there are some indications that the heat shield could not withstand the high temperatures and the spacecraft burned up.
Faster, higher and further than last time
SpaceX still considers the test flight a success. Because the Starship flew faster, higher and further than last time. The space company decided on an iterative approach years ago. Instead of optimizing a spacecraft in the lab or on the test stand, it’s better to expose it to the harsh realities of space to collect as much flight data as possible.
SpaceX accepts that there are always setbacks. In a sense, they are the basis for making the spaceship better and safer step by step. This strategy has already proven successful with the Starship’s predecessor rockets.
Heavy-lift rockets in comparison
The Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built. It even dwarfs the legendary Saturn V rocket that took the first astronauts to the moon in the 1960s. The payloads that can be transported are correspondingly large. With the Starship, SpaceX not only wants to accelerate the expansion of its Starlink satellite network. It is also the spaceship with which Elon Musk wants to make his dream come true of making Mars man’s second home.
Previous attempt ended in self-destruction
The third test flight took place just four months after the second. This only partially met expectations. The launch was successful, and the Starship separated from the first rocket stage as planned after three minutes. Shortly afterwards, however, it exploded instead of making a soft landing in the sea as planned.
The Starship initially continued its journey and reached space. But seven minutes after launch, the autonomous flight safety system kicked in and destroyed the spacecraft. As later research showed, a leak had formed while draining excess fuel. A fire broke out in the back of the spacecraft, disrupting the connection to the onboard computer. This meant that the Starship could no longer be controlled.
This time the spacecraft at least held out until it re-entered the atmosphere. This shows that SpaceX has learned from its past mistakes. The test flight also shows what tasks still lie ahead of the company before one can think about landing on the Moon or Mars.
For this it is necessary to refuel the Starship in space. This will be done with a special tanker that will dock with the Starship in Earth orbit and supply it with new fuel. This has never been attempted before. In order to perfect this complicated maneuver, at least ten test flights will be necessary over the next few years. At least six more flights are scheduled to take place this year.
Onlookers watch preparations for the Starship’s third test flight in Boca Chica, Texas.
Cheney Orr / Reuters
NASA relies on SpaceX for better or for worse
The next step would be an unmanned landing on the moon. If this works, the way would be clear for NASA’s Artemis 3 mission. This will bring astronauts to the moon for the first time since 1972. SpaceX’s Starship plays a crucial role in this. The astronauts will complete the first part of the journey in NASA’s Orion spacecraft. Then SpaceX takes over. In lunar orbit, two of the astronauts transfer to the Starship, which is intended to land near the South Pole. A week later, the Starship returns the astronauts to the Orion spacecraft. The change is necessary because the Orion spacecraft cannot land on the moon. It lacks a propulsion system capable of slowing down the spaceship.
According to NASA A manned landing on the moon will take place no earlier than September 2026. Whether this deadline can be met is not solely in the hands of the American space agency. If SpaceX doesn’t get Starship complications under control soon, the date for the Artemis 3 mission will inevitably be pushed back.
There is currently no alternative to SpaceX’s Starship. A consortium of companies led by Blue Origin is developing a lunar lander called Blue Moon on behalf of NASA. However, this will not be available until 2029 at the earliest. Until then, NASA will depend on SpaceX for better or for worse.