SpaceX launches another Starship but loses control 30 minutes into flight

SpaceX faced another setback on Tuesday evening when its mega rocket Starship tumbled out of control and broke apart during its ninth demo launch from Starbase in Texas. The 123-metre rocket was expected to release mock satellites after liftoff, but a door malfunction prevented this from happening. As the spacecraft began spinning towards an uncontrolled reentry over the Indian Ocean, it ultimately experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, acknowledged that this launch was a “big improvement” from previous failed attempts, despite the disappointing outcome. He vowed to increase the launch pace moving forward, with a Starship scheduled to soar every three to four weeks for the next three flights. This demo marked the first time a Starship flew with a recycled booster, although there were no plans to catch the booster with giant chopsticks as initially intended.

During the flight, communication was lost with the booster, which crashed into the Gulf of Mexico while the spacecraft continued its journey towards the Indian Ocean. The spacecraft went out of control, likely due to fuel leaks, and did not meet several on-orbit objectives that SpaceX had set for the test. The company had hoped to test the spacecraft’s heat shield during a controlled reentry, but communication ceased before the spacecraft landed.

Despite the setback, SpaceX remains committed to making major strides with Starship in the coming year. NASA is relying on SpaceX to land astronauts back on the moon, with plans for a moonshot mission in 2027 at the earliest. The success of Starship is crucial for achieving this goal, as it is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built.

In preparation for future launches, SpaceX has made upgrades to the spacecraft’s thermal tiles and installed special catch fittings. While this particular Starship was meant to sink in the Indian Ocean, the company wanted to test the add-ons for capturing future versions back at the launch pad. The Federal Aviation Administration has cleared Starship for another flight, with expanded hazard areas and adjusted liftoff times to minimize disruptions to air travel.

Despite the challenges faced during this launch, SpaceX remains optimistic about the future of Starship and is committed to continuous improvement and innovation in space exploration.