While the Super Heavy booster returned safely to the ground and into the arms of the giant chopsticks, a huge plume of debris was seen falling from the skies.
Starship exploded over the Caribbean as it reentered the atmosphere.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 17, 2025 12:28 IST
Minutes after it launched to space SpaceX's Starship spacecraft experienced a catastrophic failure on January 16, 2025, during its seventh test flight.
The rocket lifted off successfully from South Texas but communication was lost approximately eight minutes into the flight, leading to what SpaceX described as a "rapid unscheduled disassembly."
While the Super Heavy booster returned safely to ground and into the arms of the giant chopsticks, huge plume of debris was seen falling from the skies.
WHY DID STARSHIP EXPLODE IN SPACE?
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, provided preliminary insights into the cause of the explosion via social media.
He indicated that an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship's engine firewall had built up pressure beyond the venting capacity, ultimately leading to the rocket's breakup.
Musk stated, “Apart from obviously double-checking for leaks, we will add fire suppression to that volume and probably increase vent area.” He expressed optimism about future launches, noting that there is no indication that the next launch would be delayed past next month.
WATCH STARSHIP DEBRIS FALLING FROM SPACE
The incident prompted immediate safety measures, with airlines flying over the Gulf of Mexico altering their routes to avoid potential falling debris.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) briefly diverted air traffic in the area as a precaution. Despite this setback, SpaceX managed to successfully recover the Super Heavy booster using its mechanical "chopsticks" at the launch site.
This test flight was particularly significant as it featured a new generation of Starship designed for future lunar missions and beyond. The upper stage was equipped with upgrades aimed at enhancing performance and reliability.
However, this incident points to the challenges faced in developing such advanced space vehicles.
This latest setback is a reminder of the complexities involved in space exploration and the importance of rigorous testing and analysis in advancing aerospace technology.
While the Starship was lost, SpaceX successfully captured the multi-stories building-sized Super Heavy booster. "Atmospheric reentry speed is more than twice as fast as a bullet from an assault rifle and this is the largest flying object ever made," Musk said.
Published By:
Sibu Kumar Tripathi
Published On:
Jan 17, 2025
English (US) ·