SpaceX has reportedly lost its Starship spacecraft in an explosion. The company said on Thursday that its Starship spacecraft -- which was meant to lap Earth and splash down in the Indian Ocean -- exploded not long after its 7th test flight took off from South Texas. The disintegration delayed some commercial flights in Florida.
Starship is a next-generation spacecraft developed by SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, with the ambitious goal of enabling human space travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The Starship system consists of two parts -- the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy booster. The spacecraft, designed for both crewed and uncrewed missions, can carry passengers, cargo, and equipment. The Super Heavy booster, the first stage, provides the necessary thrust to launch Starship into orbit before returning to Earth for reuse.
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One of Starship's key features is its fully reusable design, which includes both the spacecraft and its booster. Reusability is central to reducing the cost of space travel, making space exploration more affordable and sustainable. Starship is constructed using stainless steel, which offers durability, heat resistance, and an appealing polished finish.
Starship uses Raptor engines, powered by methane and liquid oxygen, which are more efficient and easier to refuel than traditional rocket engines. This makes Starship well-suited for long-duration missions, including potential lunar and Martian expeditions. In fact, NASA has selected Starship to land astronauts on the Moon as part of the Artemis program.
Musk's vision for Starship is to make humanity a multiplanetary species, with Mars as the primary target. SpaceX has conducted numerous tests, including high-altitude flights and static fire tests, to refine the spacecraft. While the program has seen some setbacks, the iterative development process has allowed SpaceX to make rapid advancements.
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Despite the mishap, SpaceX reportedly guided the Super Heavy booster successfully back to a landing at the launch site -- making a pinpoint, mid-air touchdown between two extended arms, or "chopsticks," attached to the Mechazilla tower.
In the future, Starship is expected to revolutionize space travel, making it more cost-effective and accessible, and potentially paving the way for human settlement on Mars and beyond.