In its second unsuccessful attempt to launch dummy satellites this year, Elon Musk’s SpaceX spacecraft was seen on camera exploding and plummeting down to Earth.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t SpaceX’s second lucky break this year. Yesterday, March 3, around 5:30 p.m. CT, only ten minutes after taking off from Starbase in Texas, the Starship spaceship encountered issues, lost contact with ground control, and blew into pieces.
Later in the day, a report analyzing the test was published on SpaceX’s website. The flight test was Starship’s second attempt to launch simulated satellites this year, but it was also the eighth test overall.
The Super Heavy booster “successfully lit its 33 Raptor engines and propelled Starship through a nominal first-stage ascent,” according to the explanation, and “about two and a half minutes into flight, the Super Heavy booster shut down all but three of its Raptor engines as planned for hot-staging separation.”
However, the Super Heavy booster’s ascension took a turn after it successfully relighted 11 of the 13 Raptor engines that were scheduled and executed a “boostback burn to return itself to the launch site.”
According to the report: “Several Raptor engines were lost in an intense event in the aft section of Starship prior to the conclusion of the ascent burn. This finally resulted in a lack of communication with Starship and a loss of attitude control.
According to the study, “Final contact with Starship came approximately nine minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff.” This outcome also caused the spacecraft to undergo “a rapid unscheduled disassembly” and lose touch with ground control.
Flights from many Florida airports, including those in Miami and Orlando, were momentarily grounded as a result of the breakdown, according to the BBC.
Social media footage seems to show Bahamas residents observing the debris breaking apart in the skies above them, with some even stating they were seeking cover.
A video of lit-up debris flying back down to Earth was posted on Twitter by a number of users, followed by the caption, “If NASA had the failure rate SpaceX does, Elon Musk would be firing everyone and Congress would be demanding to know where the money is going.”
According to the following statement on SpaceX’s Twitter page: “Our team immediately began coordination with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses.”
To protect the people on land, in the water, and in the air, the spacecraft ‘flew within a defined launch corridor,’ according to the site.
In order to execute pre-planned contingency procedures, SpaceX “immediately began coordination with the FAA, ATO (air traffic control), and other safety officials.”
“Any debris that survived would have fallen inside the designated Debris Response Area.” If anyone sees any possible debris, they are urged to get in touch with their local authorities. “There are no toxic materials present in the debris and no significant impacts are expected to occur to marine species or water quality,” the statement continued.
SpaceX fixed: “To better identify the underlying reason, we will examine the data from today’s flying test. Success always stems from the lessons we learn, and today’s flight will provide more insights to increase Starship’s dependability.
“We learn from a test like this, and today’s flight will help us increase Starship’s dependability.” In order to improve future Starship flight tests, we will carry out a comprehensive study in collaboration with the FAA and put remedial measures into place.”