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SpaceX has once again showcased the capabilities of its Starship rocket during its sixth test flight, successfully making a hard landing in the Indian Ocean. The Starship launched from the Starbase facility in Texas at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) and reached splashdown approximately an hour later after completing a suborbital flight.
Liftoff of Starship! pic.twitter.com/rSLQ2DDy63
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 19, 2024
The original goal was to capture the booster, or first stage, of the rocket, as was attempted during Starship’s fifth flight. This complex maneuver requires the booster to separate from the upper stage, rotate in the air, and then land back at the Starbase site.
The plan involved a tower fitted with two “chopstick” arms that would close around the booster as it approached, securing it in place. Successfully catching the booster would allow for its reuse on future missions, thereby reducing the cost of launching multiple Starship missions.
However, SpaceX opted not to attempt this catch for this flight. Instead, the booster was directed to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico. While the exact reason for this decision has not been disclosed, the company prioritizes caution when testing new technologies.
In a statement prior to the mission, SpaceX emphasized the importance of meeting specific vehicle and pad criteria before attempting a booster recovery, which necessitates functional systems on both the booster and the tower, along with a final manual command from the Flight Director. They noted that if any conditions were deemed unsafe during the launch, the booster would default to a trajectory for a soft splashdown.
The booster did achieve a gentle splashdown but unfortunately exploded shortly after contacting the water’s surface, likely due to tipping over upon impact and becoming unstable.
During the flight, the Starship also accomplished a significant first by reigniting one of its Raptor engines while in space. This milestone occurred about 35 minutes after launch and is crucial for future spacecraft’s ability to maneuver in and out of sustainable orbits.
As the Starship prepared for reentry, viewers observed the rocket glowing and the materials wrinkling due to heat, yet it successfully navigated through the maximum heating phase before splashing down in the ocean. Although the vehicle appeared damaged upon landing, it remained intact.
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting sixth flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/bf98Va9qmL
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 19, 2024
Despite the missed booster catch, this test flight represents another significant step forward for the Starship program, which is slated to support missions such as transporting NASA cargo and astronauts to the moon under the Artemis initiative.
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