SpaceX's Starship spacecraft explodes in mid-air during flight test, but onlookers cheer and media reports it as a success
SpaceX, an aerospace company led by Elon Musk, launched the world's largest rocket 'Super Heavy' carrying the spacecraft 'Starship' at 9:33 local time (22:33 Japan time) on April 20, 2023. We conducted a launch test. The launched Starship failed to detach its booster and was destroyed in the sky, but SpaceX declared it a success because it succeeded in taking off. When the aircraft exploded, onlookers cheered and applauded, and media outlets reported that it was a ``partial success'' and ``not a complete failure.''
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The 'Starship' that SpaceX conducted a flight test on the 20th is a spacecraft developed with the purpose of manned space flight to Mars in mind, and the 'Super Heavy' which is the booster part of the first stage has 33 units. It is the largest rocket ever built with an engine. The launch was originally scheduled for the 17th, but was postponed due to aircraft trouble.
The moment of the launch, which was held again on the 20th, can be seen from around
Starship Flight Test - YouTube
Starship is undergoing final preparations for launch at SpaceX's Starbase launch site in Boca Chica, Texas.
Spectators flocked to the shores of South Padre Island, which overlooks the launch site.
The starship took off with huge flames and smoke.
The rocket rose quickly.
However, as the plane reaches altitude, several of its engines stop working and the plane begins to become unstable.
Approximately four minutes after takeoff, when the rocket reached approximately 39 km above the ground, it was detonated by a signal from the ground. The onlookers erupted in applause and cheers.
Regarding this test flight, SpaceX said on its official website, ``Starship took off from the launch pad and coast and rose to approximately 39 km above the Gulf of Mexico. However, during the flight test, multiple engines stopped, the altitude decreased, and the Starship rolled over. 'As a result, a flight termination system command was issued on both the booster and the spacecraft.'
In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced, ``During the ascent, an abnormality occurred before stage separation and the aircraft was lost. No injuries or damage to public property have been reported.''
Although Starship exploded due to separation failure, SpaceX considers this launch a success. In a post-launch tweet, the company said, 'Congratulations to the SpaceX team on an exciting first Starship integrated flight test!'
Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting first integrated flight test of Starship!
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 20, 2023
SpaceX's Kate Tice commented during the broadcast, ``It's amazing that we've made it this far.After we achieved our goal, everything we did was decorations to compliment our accomplishments.'' Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki explains why SpaceX considers this launch a success:
The purpose of this #Starship test flight was to clear the launch pad, and as they had declared that anything after that would be a bonus (icy on the cake), several engines did not ignite and the booster separation did not work properly. Even when the command was destroyed, there were cheers... pic.twitter.com/BGcFKbQAJK
— Naoko Yamazaki Naoko Yamazaki (@Astro_Naoko) April 20, 2023
Multiple foreign media outlets also reported that SpaceX's tests were largely successful. In an article titled 'Why SpaceX's Starship explosion is a modest success,' The Washington Post wrote, 'Given the scale of Starship, billed as the world's most powerful rocket, the successful launch is itself It's a great accomplishment.'
Also, The New York Times said, ``The flight was not a complete success. According to the plan, Starship would reach an altitude of about 150 miles (about 241 km) and splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii in about 90 minutes. ' We avoided the worst possible outcome, which would have been an explosion on the launch pad that would have required major repairs.' The newspaper also introduces SpaceX's motto of 'fail fast and learn fast,' and says that the launch brought a lot of knowledge and lessons to the Starship project.
According to Elon Musk, the next test launch will be in a few months.
Congrats @SpaceX team on an exciting test launch of Starship!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2023
Learned a lot for next test launch in a few months. pic.twitter.com/gswdFut1dK
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