Recently, SpaceX performed the third test flight of its Starship rocket. Launched from SpaceX’s launch complex Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, this test was by far the most successful the company has had since the first in April last year.
Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. It includes two main sections: the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage. The booster is powered by 33 of SpaceX’s Raptor engines. After the booster burns all of its propellant, the vehicle performs a hot stage, where the two sections separate, aided by a boost from the upper stage’s engines. The booster lands autonomously while the upper stage carries on with the mission.
This test marked the second time all 33 engines on the booster lit and the second successful hot stage. After the separation, however, the booster failed to land. The upper stage continued on for about another 40 minutes. The mission concluded when the craft burned up in the atmosphere upon reentry, a period where an object is falling back to Earth.
Starship is the rocket SpaceX will use to attempt to put humans on Mars. It is the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, thus Starship has the potential to be the primary rocket used for deep space travel. A modified Starship will serve as the lander for the Artemis missions to bring humans back to the moon later this decade. Despite the unsuccessful reentry, this test was a huge step forward for the development of Starship.
This information was gathered from spacex.com.
