SpaceX’s Starship, intended to transport astronauts to the moon and beyond, completed a successful test flight after launching and returning to Earth mostly in one piece. The uncrewed test flight was the fourth launch of the Starship and was successful, as opposed to the third test in March.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
The rocket blasted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, flew over various locations including the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, and re-entered the atmosphere, finally splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
The test showed the rocket sustained significant damage, although SpaceX highlighted that data collection was the main goal of the test, which was successful. The Starship flipped into a vertical position, and for the first time, the landing burn was executed successfully. These tests also included the successful splashdown of the Starship’s first stage, called the Super Heavy booster. These successes show progress and inspire hopes for the next round of testing.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The test flight was seen as a success, and while it must be made safer for regular use, it demonstrates significant progress from previous tests.
What are your thoughts on SpaceX? Starship’s test flights? Future research or space tourism?
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