SpaceX’s Starship rocket soared into the skies over Texas on Tuesday, marking its ninth test flight after two previous attempts ended in fiery explosions. The uncrewed launch showcased both triumphs and setbacks as SpaceX pushes the boundaries of space exploration.
The massive two-stage spacecraft, comprising the Starship vessel atop the powerful Super Heavy rocket booster, lifted off at 7:36 p.m. EDT (2336 GMT) from SpaceX’s Starbase launch site near Brownsville, Texas. The launch was streamed live, capturing the moment the Raptor engines ignited, propelling the rocket upward in a blaze of flame and smoke.
Minutes into the flight, the Super Heavy booster successfully separated from the Starship upper stage. However, SpaceX controllers lost contact with the booster during its descent, and it is believed to have plunged into the sea instead of executing the planned controlled splashdown.
The Starship upper stage continued its ascent, reaching its intended suborbital trajectory approximately nine minutes after liftoff. Despite this milestone, the test flight faced challenges. The payload doors failed to open, preventing the release of simulated satellites. Additionally, about 30 minutes after launch, SpaceX reported that the flight team had lost attitude control of Starship, causing the vehicle to spin as it approached atmospheric re-entry.
“We are not aligned as we wanted for re-entry,” a SpaceX commentator noted during the livestream. “Our chances of making it all the way down are pretty slim.”
This test comes shortly after federal regulators granted SpaceX a launch license, ending a nearly two-month grounding period following a mishap investigation. The previous two test flights in January and March also ended prematurely when the rockets exploded shortly after liftoff, scattering debris and affecting air traffic in the region.
Despite these hurdles, SpaceX remains committed to refining the Starship system, which is integral to CEO Elon Musk’s vision for multiplanetary travel. The company aims to demonstrate the spacecraft’s reusability and pave the way for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
