The Implications of SpaceX’s Second Starship Test Flight

Saturday’s launch again ended in the loss of both Starship stages, prompting another FAA mishap investigation and potential delays to NASA’s Artemis moon mission program.

Jack Daleo

Monday, November 20, 2023 at 03:04 PM ET

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SpaceX’s Starship rocket and Super Heavy booster take off from the Starbase launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, on Saturday morning. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's second Starship test flight achieved successful hot-stage separation but both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage were lost due to explosions.
The failures have prompted another FAA mishap investigation, grounding Starship and delaying future test flights until the investigation is complete and a new launch license is approved.
These setbacks pose a significant challenge to NASA's Artemis program, which relies on Starship for lunar landings, and could cause further delays for human missions to the Moon.
SpaceX also faces additional hurdles, including an ongoing environmental lawsuit regarding its Starbase operations and recent concerns over workplace safety.

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The most powerful rocket ever built is grounded—again.

SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket and Super Heavy booster flew for the second time on Saturday, and the results were a mixed bag. Stage separation—the point at which the spaceship’s maiden voyage in April went off the rails—was a success. But like last time, both the rocket and booster exploded and were lost, prompting another mishap investigation by the FAA. Starship will not be able to fly again until the investigation and a launch license evaluation are concluded.