Third test flight
Musk’s “Starship” makes a picture-perfect launch into space
March 14, 2024, 2:34 p.m
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At around 120 meters long, Elon Musk’s “Starship” is the largest and most powerful space rocket of all time. During the first test in April, the moon and Mars rocket exploded a few minutes after launch. The second test also has a similar ending. Now the third attempt is successful.
“Starship” took off from the spaceport in the US state of Texas.
(Photo: REUTERS)
The largest rocket system ever built in space history has set off on a third test flight after two unsuccessful attempts. The unmanned “Starship” took off from the spaceport of tech billionaire Elon Musk’s private space company SpaceX in the US state of Texas, as live images showed. A test flight lasting around an hour was planned, after which both rocket stages were to land in the sea.
The lower rocket stage also attempted to land, but then failed to make it, as the commentators on the live stream reported. “We lost the rocket stage, so we have to look at the data again.” The upper rocket stage managed to reach space for the first time, where it would then fly for around half an hour before landing. This means that significantly more goals were achieved in the third test than in the previous two.
During a first test last April, the entire rocket system exploded after just a few minutes. During a second test in November, the two rocket stages separated and the upper one continued to fly, but shortly afterwards both exploded separately. SpaceX always emphasizes that the goal of the tests is to collect data.
The “Starship” – consisting of the approximately 70 meter long “Super Heavy” booster and the approximately 50 meter long upper stage, also called “Starship” – is intended to enable manned missions to the Moon and Mars. The system is designed so that the spacecraft and rocket can be reused after returning to Earth. The system, which is around 120 meters long in total, will be able to transport well over 100 tons of cargo in the future. NASA wants to take astronauts to the moon with the “Starship”. SpaceX hopes to one day get to Mars.