SpaceX conducted its seventh test flight of the Super Heavy-Starship mega rocket on Thursday, successfully recovering the first stage booster at its launch pad. However, the new-generation Starship upper stage spacecraft was lost, reportedly disintegrating as it ascended into space. Federal officials indicated that debris from the destroyed Starship caused a temporary disruption in airline operations departing from Miami, Florida.
Telemetry data from the Starship ceased transmitting eight minutes and 27 seconds post-launch due to unexpected engine shutdowns or failures. SpaceX later acknowledged the spacecraft's destruction in a post on X, employing a humorous tone:
"Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn. Teams will continue to review data from today's flight test to better understand the root cause. With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today's flight will help us improve Starship's reliability."
All communication with the Starship has been lost," stated a commentator from SpaceX during the launch. "This indicates that we experienced an anomaly with the upper stage." Shortly thereafter, he added, "We have indeed lost the upper stage."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also noted that air traffic at Miami International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airports faced delays of up to one hour, attributing this to a "rocket launch anomaly."
In a statement, the FAA mentioned that it "temporarily slowed and rerouted aircraft in the vicinity where debris from the space vehicle was descending." It confirmed that normal operations have since resumed.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has acknowledged that an anomaly took place during the SpaceX Starship Flight 7 mission, which was launched from Boca Chica, Texas, on January 16. In a subsequent statement, the agency indicated that it is currently evaluating the operation.
Footage shared on social media and confirmed by CBS News depicted debris from the Starship descending in the vicinity of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean.
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of SpaceX, later suggested a potential cause for the incident by posting on his X platform: "Preliminary indications suggest that we experienced an oxygen/fuel leak in the area above the ship's engine firewall, which was substantial enough to create pressure exceeding the venting capacity. In addition to thoroughly checking for leaks, we will implement fire suppression measures in that area and likely expand the venting capacity."
In a press release, SpaceX stated that "initial data suggests a fire ignited in the aft section of the ship, resulting in a rapid unscheduled disassembly, with debris falling into the Atlantic Ocean within designated hazard zones."
SpaceX advised that anyone who discovers what they believe to be debris should contact local authorities or reach out to the company's debris hotline at 1-866-623-0234.
The massive rocket launched from SpaceX's Boca Chica facility in Texas at 5:37 p.m. Eastern Time, igniting 33 methane-fueled Raptor engines that produced up to 16 million pounds of thrust.
Consuming 40,000 pounds of propellant each second, the booster ascended from its launch pad and elegantly arced eastward, leaving a long trail of fiery exhaust visible for miles.
Two minutes and 40 seconds post-launch, the Super Heavy stage detached, allowing the Starship to continue its ascent into space powered by its six Raptor engines.
The booster, in the meantime, executed a maneuver to reverse its trajectory, reigniting several engines as it redirected towards Boca Chica, where the distinctive mechanical arms of the rocket's launch gantry awaited its arrival in an open position.
Descending tail-first towards Earth, the Super Heavy reignited its engines, adjusting its angle to guide itself back to the launch pad, ultimately positioning itself directly between the chopsticks, which then smoothly closed to secure the booster mid-air.
The inaugural successful capture occurred last October, providing a breathtaking spectacle for thousands of enthusiastic residents and visitors. However, the Super Heavy designated for the subsequent flight a month later was redirected to a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico due to damage sustained by sensors on the launch tower, which were essential for guiding the descending booster into place.
To prevent such issues, new sensors with enhanced shielding have been installed, and SpaceX engineers are optimistic about achieving regular recoveries of Super Heavy boosters, akin to the success seen with the Falcon 9 rockets, which is crucial for SpaceX's objective of reducing launch expenses.
In line with the reusability initiative, one of the Super Heavy's 33 Raptor engines had previously flown on a test mission, showcasing its capability for multiple flights.
The majority of the enhancements tested on Thursday were integrated into what SpaceX referred to as a "new generation" Starship. Two minutes following the booster’s landing, the upper stage successfully reached space.
The absence of telemetry left flight controllers without crucial information regarding the events that may have transpired during the final phases of the ascent.
In these preliminary test flights, the Starships do not aim to achieve orbital status. Rather, they execute a maneuver that takes them halfway around the Earth before descending belly-first through intense atmospheric friction, ultimately flipping to a nose-up position for a tail-first, rocket-assisted splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
For the flight scheduled on Thursday, key test objectives included the reactivation of a Raptor engine in space and the deployment of ten dummy Starlink prototypes to evaluate a new satellite delivery mechanism that operates similarly to a Pez candy dispenser. Once the rocket is fully operational, Starships are anticipated to launch thousands of Starlink satellites.
Additional enhancements included smaller stabilizing fins, strategically repositioned to minimize their exposure to re-entry heat, an upgraded propulsion avionics system, redesigned fuel feed lines, and a 25% increase in propellant capacity to enhance overall performance.
The revamped avionics system features an enhanced flight computer, new antennas that integrate signals from both Starlink and GPS navigation satellites, advanced "smart batteries," and power units designed to operate approximately twenty high-voltage actuators, along with reconfigured navigation sensors.
Additionally, SpaceX has incorporated more than 30 cameras onboard, enabling direct observation of essential systems. These cameras utilize operational Starlink satellites to transmit real-time video and data back to Earth.
Although the spacecraft is engineered for complete reusability, SpaceX has yet to attempt the recovery of a returning Starship or a Falcon 9 upper stage.
The recent test flight conducted on Thursday included several experiments aimed at evaluating various enhancements to the heat shield, such as metallic tiles and a version featuring active cooling, as well as dummy fittings for Starship recovery, to gain insights into their performance during re-entry heating.
According to SpaceX's website, "This new year will be transformational for Starship," with aspirations to achieve full system reusability and undertake increasingly ambitious missions, ultimately facilitating human and cargo transport to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars.
Establishing a regular flight schedule for the Super Heavy-Starship is essential for NASA's Artemis lunar program. NASA is funding SpaceX to develop a variant of the Starship upper stage intended to transport astronauts to the lunar surface by 2027.
To facilitate a lunar mission, SpaceX must first launch the Starship into low-Earth orbit, where a series of other Starship "tankers" will rendezvous, dock, and autonomously refuel the spacecraft destined for the Moon, enabling it to exit Earth orbit and venture into deep space.
Astronauts will be launched in an Orion capsule atop NASA's Space Launch System rocket, subsequently rendezvousing with the Starship in lunar orbit for the descent to the Moon's surface.
NASA's contract stipulates that one uncrewed lunar landing test flight must occur before astronauts can be authorized to descend to the lunar surface. The ongoing testing program will ascertain the timeline for this milestone.
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