Space X Starship launch: What happened in the previous test flight?
SpaceX held a test flight of its gigantic Starship on April 20, where the rocket soared before breaking apart and spreading debris across the ocean.
On April 20 this year, SpaceX made history. Elon Musk’s company launched the prototype of its Starship with the intention of reaching space. However, the ship exploded a few minutes into its mission after leaving the facilities in Boca Chica in Texas.
Musk, founder of the company, would later claim that the rocket exploded because the super heavy booster did not separate from the ship, causing an “unscheduled rapid disassembly”. Despite the explosion, he said that the operation was “a complete success” for the company.
Why was the Starship explosion a success for Elon Musk?
Although the largest rocket ever created exploded just four minutes after its launch, the explosion did not represent a failure for Musk, but rather, the complete opposite. The Tesla magnate would later say that the simple act of taking off was already seen as a resounding success, even exceeding expectations after surpassing Max Q, the maximum dynamic pressure.
In a statement, SpaceX stated that true triumph comes from what is learned from mistakes, since the ship’s failure will help them improve for the next launch. “Success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multiplanetary,“ they said through Twitter, a company also owned by Musk.
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When will the next launch be?
After several months of trial and error, the FAA has given the green light for SpaceX to carry out another launch of a ship that promises to change the space race.
“The FAA has given the authorization license for the second launch of SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy vehicle. The FAA has determined that SpaceX met all safety, environmental, regulatory and financial responsibility requirements,” the government agency wrote on Twitter.
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On Friday, November 17, SpaceX will have free rein to carry out its second test, scheduled for 8 a.m. ET. SpaceX’s plan involves the aircraft being able to fly satisfactorily around the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans in a journey of approximately an hour and a half.
According to the company, the objective is to evaluate the quality of the engines, propellants, rocket (the largest in history) and the different heat shields of the ship.