**SpaceX’s Starship Rocket Faces Setback in Latest Test Flight**
SpaceX’s ambitious Starship rocket encountered significant challenges during its recent test flight, marking the third consecutive setback for the company led by Elon Musk. The launch, which took place on Tuesday at approximately 6:36 p.m. local time from South Texas, attracted around 1.1 million viewers on X as the rocket took off with its Super Heavy booster.
Shortly after launch, the Super Heavy booster successfully separated from the Starship upper stage and ignited its engines. However, as it attempted to return to Earth, it experienced a malfunction and exploded, according to SpaceX commentators. Despite this, it was anticipated that the booster would make a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
The mission also aimed to achieve another critical milestone: deploying a series of dummy satellites using Starship. Although the rocket reached space, the vehicle’s bay door failed to open as planned, preventing the satellite deployment test from proceeding. These dummy satellites were designed to simulate upgraded Starlink internet satellites that the Starship is intended to carry in operational missions.
Approximately 35 minutes into the flight, the livestream began to experience interruptions. SpaceX commentator Dan Huot informed viewers that the vehicle had lost control and was spinning, making it impossible to execute a controlled reentry and withstand the intense atmospheric conditions. Another commentator, Jessie Anderson, noted that the vehicle “met its demise.” Huot also mentioned that leaks in the ship’s fuel tank systems contributed to the loss of control.
Despite the setbacks, SpaceX emphasized its commitment to learning from each test flight. Anderson stated, “We’re going to learn, iterate, and iterate over and over again.” Following the launch, Musk had scheduled a company-wide meeting at 8 p.m. local time in Starbase, South Texas, but it had not commenced by 9 p.m., and no explanation was provided.
The stakes for this flight were particularly high, especially after previous flights in January and March ended prematurely with explosions shortly after takeoff, resulting in debris falling into the Gulf of Mexico and disrupting air travel. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which oversees Starship flights, acknowledged that an anomaly occurred and is collaborating with SpaceX to investigate the incident. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries or damage to public property.
As SpaceX continues to navigate these challenges, the focus remains on refining the Starship program and achieving its ambitious goals in space exploration.
**FAQ**
*What happened during SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight?*
During the test flight, SpaceX’s Starship rocket experienced a leak, lost control, and ultimately disintegrated upon reentry to Earth. The mission also failed to deploy dummy satellites as planned.
