SpaceX
SpaceX’s Giant Starship successfully makes orbit but is destroyed after an orbital breakthrough.
The Starship rocket, the most powerful in the world, soared to record-breaking heights and speeds during its third test launch on Thursday.
Departing from SpaceX’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, the event was broadcast live on social media, with millions of viewers.
This cutting-edge spacecraft is crucial to NASA’s lunar landing ambitions and Elon Musk’s vision of establishing colonies on Mars. Despite prior setbacks, including explosive mishaps, SpaceX remains committed to its rapid development strategy.
Starship is coasting in space pic.twitter.com/ZFUXMUkufW
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2024
Standing at 397 feet, the Starship dwarfs even the Statue of Liberty. Its Super Heavy booster generates a staggering 16.7 million pounds of thrust, surpassing all other rockets in power.
The latest test marked a significant milestone, achieving several objectives such as testing payload delivery capabilities and conducting the first atmospheric re-entry. High-definition footage captured stunning views of Earth from space as Starship reached speeds exceeding 26,000 kilometers per hour at over 200 kilometers above sea level.
SpaceX
However, communication was lost 49 minutes into the flight, leading to the loss of the spacecraft before its planned splashdown. The lower-stage booster also encountered difficulties during its water landing, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
