It was expected. SpaceX ultimately did not attempt, during a test flight Tuesday from the Starbase in Boca Chica in Texas, to catch up with the launcher using mechanical arms of its Starship megarocket, Super Heavy. A few minutes after takeoff, it ended its course in the sea of the Gulf of Mexico. This complex maneuver should make this rocket fully reusable. Conversely, SpaceX managed to carry out the maneuvers it wanted on the second stage of Starship. And after more than an hour of flight, she successfully landed it in the Indian Ocean, under the eyes of the president elected Donald Trump.
The rest after this ad
The rest after this ad
The goal of this sixth test flight was “to expand the capabilities of the ship and booster and move closer to reusability of the entire system,” according to SpaceX. The Starship consists of two parts: the upper stage, also called Starship, and the booster, Super Heavy, located below. During the previous test flight, the American company succeeded in landing Starship in the Indian Ocean. But above all, she had managed to recover Super Heavy thanks to a maneuver that had never been done before. Before the booster could touch the ground, mechanical arms installed on the launch tower had closed on the 70 meter high craft and immobilized it. The technical feat had left everyone dry, like Thomas Pesquet, who conceded that he “wasn't ready for that”.
Landing for safety reasons
A few minutes after takeoff, the SpaceX commentator announced, without giving further details, that the criteria were not met to attempt the same operation during this sixth flight. So,When she knew she couldn't land Super Heavy on its launch arm, SpaceX deliberately deviated the trajectory of its booster to land it offshore, far from the shore, for safety reasons.
The rest after this ad
The rest after this ad
In addition, SpaceX managed to successfully restart one of the Starship's engines (the second stage) while it continued its flight. This was one of the most critical moments of the trial. She also carried out tests on the machine's heat shield. Then, after more than an hour of flight, the Starship, in turn, successfully landed off the coast of the Indian Ocean, without exploding. Thanks to these various successful tests, the company will be able to begin carrying out more in-depth tests in orbit. They will be decisive for SpaceX, which intends to provide trips between the Earth and the Moon, then Mars.
Related News :