The second unsuccessful attempt this year to launch dummy satellites was caught on camera as Elon Musk’s SpaceX spacecraft exploded and plummeted back to Earth.
Sadly, SpaceX’s Starship spaceship did not have a second chance this year. It encountered issues just ten minutes after departing Starbase in Texas yesterday (March 3) at 5:30 p.m. CT, lost contact with ground control, and broke into fragments.
Later in the day, SpaceX’s website published a report analyzing the test. The flight test was Starship’s second effort to launch dummy satellites this year, but it was also the eighth test altogether.
The explanation stated that the Super Heavy booster “successfully lit its 33 Raptor engines and propelled Starship through a nominal first-stage ascent.” Additionally, it stated that “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.”
But even after the Super Heavy rocket accomplished a “boostback burn to return itself to the launch site” and successfully relighted 11 of the 13 scheduled Raptor engines, its ascent took a different turn.
“An energetic event in the aft portion of Starship resulted in the loss of several Raptor engines prior to the end of the ascent burn,” the study states. Consequently, there was a loss of control over attitude, which finally resulted in a loss of communication with Starship.
The vehicle also experienced “a rapid unscheduled disassembly” as a result, and the report also stated that it lost touch with ground control. “Final contact with Starship came approximately nine minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff.”
According to the BBC, the malfunction ultimately resulted in the temporary suspension of flights from several Florida airports, including those in Miami and Orlando.
In social media footage, folks in the Bahamas can be seen watching the debris break apart in the sky above them. Some of them also mention that they were seeking cover.
Additionally, a number of social media users captured the failure. One video was posted to Twitter, displaying illuminated debris returning to Earth with 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 SpaceX’s Twitter page, “Our team immediately began coordination with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses.”
The spaceship ‘flew within an authorized launch corridor to safeguard the public both on the land, on water, and in the air,’ according to the site.
“SpaceX promptly initiated cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Control (ATO), and additional safety authorities to execute prearranged backup plans.”
“The designated Debris Response Area would have contained any remaining debris. It also stated that there are no hazardous elements in the debris and that there won’t be any major effects on marine life or water quality. If anyone sees any possible debris, they should get in touch with their local authorities.
SpaceX’s solution was to examine the data from today’s flight test in order to better identify the underlying reason. As always, we learn from our mistakes, and today’s flight will teach us more lessons to increase Starship’s dependability.
Success in a test like this depends on what we learn, and today’s flight will help us increase Starship’s dependability. Together with the FAA, we will carry out a comprehensive study and put remedial measures in place to enhance upcoming Starship flying testing.”
