With the second attempt almost complete success has come. At last, SpaceX has achieved the launch and separation of the two stages of Starshipthe largest and most powerful rocket in the world.
A moderately successful first attempt was made last April. The rocket successfully left the SpaceX base in Texas. However, once in the air, the two stages that make up the ship They were not separated correctly. This could mean a deviation from the planned trajectory, so it was decided to intentionally explode it to avoid possible incidents.
The second opportunity was dated for yesterday, November 17. However, hours before, the CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk, advertisement that the launch was postponed until Sunday, as it was necessary to change a part, specifically a grille flap actuator. Today the launch was possible. The countdown has stopped for a few minutes in the second T-40, due to a small failure in the pressurization of the second stage. But it was resolved quickly. Thus, very shortly after the opening of the launch window, at 2:00 p.m., Starship has successfully begun its first voyage. After launch, all engines have been started correctly.
The separation of the two phases, the point that failed in April, has gone smoothly, and there has only been one small problem. Shortly after separation, the first stage exploded, possibly in a controlled manner. But the second stage, the one that will take the astronauts to the Moon, continued its journey until, shortly after, its signal was lost. It is true that it is not a complete success, but Starship has come much further than ever, so project scientists already see it as a triumph.
Starship: the most powerful rocket in the world
The ship that SpaceX has successfully launched consists of two stages, which add 122 meters in total when stacked. Starship is the upper one, while the lower one, which has the rocket booster, is called Superheavy.
After the launch, scientists at Elon Musk’s company held their breath, waiting to see if the same thing happened as in April. But this time the two phases have properly separated, beginning Starship’s solo journey.
There were 90 minutes left ahead. walk over the Gulf of Mexico, at a speed of 28,160 kilometers per hour and an altitude of 250 kilometers. If everything had gone well, this second phase would have fallen near Hawaii for recovery. This is important, since, although it does not perform vertical landings like those of the famous Falcon Heavyalso from SpaceX, both phases of Starship are reusable.
This greatly reduces the costs of Artemis, the mission with which humans will be returned to the Moon. Additionally, it reduces space debris levels. SpaceX is already contributing its satellite constellation to a lot of space debris, so it is trying to compensate as much as possible with its rockets.
And now that?
If the trip ends successfully, SpaceX will have demonstrated that its Starship is ready to propel humans to the Moon.
The manned phase of Artemis is expected in 2025, so if all goes well, that will be when we can see the ship fully in action. There are still details to polish, that’s for sure, but many steps forward have been taken.