(Photo by Laurie Coker)
By LAURIE COKER
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
On November 19, in a rigorous integrated flight test, SpaceX’s Starship experienced a mix of success and challenges during its second launch from Starbase in Boca Chica. Although not unfolding in a controlled environment, the mission provided crucial data for the continuous development of the Starship program, according to the SpaceX website.
While the launch saw Starship successfully lifting off, powered by all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster, the subsequent stages revealed unforeseen hurdles. After the boost-back burn following a triumphant stage separation, the booster encountered a rapid unscheduled disassembly. Despite this setback, Starship’s 6-second stage Raptor engines fired for several minutes as it climbed to an altitude of approximately 150 kilometers, which is 93 miles or nearly 500,000 feet above Earth.
Reflecting on the test, SpaceX emphasized the importance of learning from each endeavor. “With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multi-planetary,” noted an online report from SpaceX.
The incident occurred during the SpaceX Starship OFT-2 launch from Boca Chica, Texas, on Saturday, Nov. 18. Fortunately, no injuries or public property damage have been reported. In response to the mishap, SpaceX immediately initiated a mishap investigation, as per protocol, prioritizing public safety and root cause determination and implementing corrective actions to prevent a recurrence.
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