SpaceX’s latest test flight of the Starship rocket ended in failure for the third consecutive time. The rocket began to spin out of control about 30 minutes after its launch due to fuel leaks, leading to its breakup during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
During a livestream, a SpaceX commentator expressed low hopes for the mission’s success, stating, "Our chances of making it all the way down to the Indian Ocean are pretty slim." This flight was initially seen as a step forward, as the rocket had successfully passed through critical phases that led to explosive failures in previous attempts earlier this year.
In January and March, earlier test flights caused significant disruptions, grounding the project for two months while an investigation was conducted. This time, however, plans to deploy a series of mock satellites after launch were scrapped when the rocket’s payload door failed to open properly.
The Starship was mounted on a Super Heavy booster that was reused for the first time. While the intention was for it to make a soft landing, it ultimately crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.
SpaceX’s ambitions for Starship include using it to transport people and cargo to Mars. However, this recent setback raises questions about the timeline for these plans. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, had hoped for a successful flight and was scheduled to discuss his space exploration goals in a speech titled "The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary." Unfortunately, that event has been delayed without any explanation.
Despite the failure, Musk described this test flight as a "big improvement" and expressed a commitment to accelerate future launches, aiming for the next three flights to occur every three to four weeks. SpaceX stated that each test provides valuable lessons that will enhance the reliability of Starship.
NASA is counting on SpaceX to make significant progress with Starship in the coming year as the agency aims to land astronauts on the moon. Musk was seen watching the test flight from a control center, wearing a T-shirt that read "Occupy Mars."
As SpaceX continues to face challenges, the world watches closely, hopeful for advancements in space travel.