SpaceX’s Starship rocket and Super Heavy booster lift off from the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday. [Courtesy: SpaceX]
Key Takeaways:
SpaceX's Starship completed its third orbital test flight, which ended with the loss of both the spacecraft and booster, leading to an FAA investigation and subsequent grounding.
Despite the loss, this flight was significantly more successful than previous attempts, with Starship reaching space, achieving orbital speeds, and demonstrating key capabilities like opening its payload door and performing a liquid oxygen transfer.
The ongoing FAA investigation, standard for such incidents, will determine corrective actions and must conclude before Starship can fly again, potentially impacting NASA's Artemis moon mission timelines that rely on Starship.
In what feels increasingly like a bout of déjà vu, SpaceX’s Starship—the largest and most powerful rocket ever flown—has been grounded again.
The FAA on Thursday initiated its third mishap investigation into Starship after the 400-foot-tall spacecraft and booster were lost during its third orbital test flight. Both components are intended to be reusable.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
