On Ninth Test Flight, SpaceX's Starship Rocket Survives Launch But Not Space
SpaceX launched its Starship rocket for the ninth time tonight, and for the first time since the sixth flight in November, that enormous launch vehicle's second stage reached space intact. But then things went awry as the upper stage spun out of control and burned up on atmospheric re-entry.
This was not the sequel SpaceX had hoped to stage to the previous two test flights in January and March. Both ended early when Starship's second stage exploded during its climb to space, leaving trails of glowing debris re-entering the atmosphere over the Caribbean and forcing the diversion or delay of dozens of airline flights.
Tuesday's flight lifted off at 6:36 p.m. Central time from SpaceX's Starbase facility at Boca Chica, Texas, following two brief holds to troubleshoot ground equipment. The 33 methane-fueled Raptor engines in the 403-foot-tall rocket's booster—the same first stage used in January's launch—sent it arcing out over the Gulf of Mexico and up to Starship's "hotstage" cutover, where the second stage's engines ignite while still attached to the first stage.
The company did not attempt to catch the booster with the 'chopsticks' arms of its launch tower so it could test a landing burn with an engine out. The booster did not survive that test, instead exploding before it could finish that burn and softly land in the water.
Starship's second stage appeared to be doing much better, with its six Raptors putting it into the planned suborbital trajectory.
'Ship engine cutoff, the three most beautiful words in the English language,' SpaceX launch commentator Dan Huot exhaled on the company's livestream. But things went sideways from then on, figuratively and literally.
SpaceX could not complete the next test planned in this mission, deploying simulated Starlink satellites, after the payload bay door failed to open properly. Huot reached for the obligatory space-sci-fi reference: 'HAL told me no, said I'm sorry Dan, I can't do that.'
SpaceX's plans for its broadband satellite constellation include being able to launch at least 50 upgraded Starlinks in one Starship flight. In 2023, Elon Musk suggested the first such launch could happen in 2024; Tuesday's flight was supposed to advance that aimed-for upgrade a little closer to reality.
After a break in video coverage while Starship was in darkness above the Earth, the stream then revealed that Starship's upper stage had begun whirling out of control. 'We did spring a leak in some of the fuel tank systems inside of Starship,' Huot reported. 'At this point, we've essentially lost our attitude control with Starship.'
That put an end to the rest of the testing planned for the mission and ensured a fiery doom for Starship. Increasingly intermittent video, relayed via Starlink, showed the vehicle wreathed in brightly colored plasma, with one of its control fins disintegrating from that heat; telemetry stopped with whatever was left of Starship about 37 miles above the Indian Ocean.
Musk put an optimistic spin on the flight in a post on X Tuesday evening: 'Starship made it to the scheduled ship engine cutoff, so big improvement over last flight!' The CEO also confirmed Huot's report of a tank leak. 'Leaks caused loss of main tank pressure during the coast and re-entry phase,' Musk continued. 'Lot of good data to review.'
This footage could not have been comfortable viewing at NASA, because the space agency is also counting on the rocket. In 2021, NASA inked a $2.89 billion contract with SpaceX in 2021 to develop a version of Starship's upper stage as a crewed lunar lander for its Artemis return to the Moon. Two years later, the space agency awarded a $3.4 billion contract to Blue Origin in 2023 to develop a second lunar lander to fly on that firm's New Glenn rocket.
President Trump's nominee to head NASA, billionaire payments executive and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, reposted a screengrab of one of Starship's final moments. 'Pretty incredible to get this kind of footage from the extreme environment of reentry. Appreciate the transparency—and bringing us space enthusiasts along through the highs and lows of a test program,' he tweeted.
Isaacman, who has flown to space twice aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon in missions he bankrolled himself, voiced confidence in the future of America's private space industry, which now extends well beyond SpaceX.
'Some may focus on the lows, but behind the efforts of Starship—and other programs like New Glenn, Neutron, Vulcan, Terran, Stoke, etc—is a massive space economy taking shape: tens of thousands of jobs, billions in private investment, all aimed at truly opening the last great frontier,' he wrote. 'When these capabilities arrive, they will spearhead a new era of exploration and discovery—and the lows will become a chapter in a much longer story.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
13 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Homewood-Floosmoor science teachers return with awards
Two Homewood-Flossmoor teachers, Jeanettra Watkins and Corinne Zimmerman, are known for getting students at every level excited about science. Now they are both being honored with special teaching awards. Watkins' commitment to teaching science started back in fifth grade, when her science teacher, Joy Ward-Drew, sparked an interest through her compelling teaching style and nurturing skills. 'She cultivated that love of science for me,' Watkins said. 'By just giving — she took time, exposed me to different science competitions, even paid for me to go. 'She told me, 'When you become the adult, give back as well,'' Watkins recalled. So in addition to her regular science teaching, Watkins tutors students after school, using her own funds to give out five scholarships yearly. She thrives on helping minority students who struggle with science. Watkins was also just plain fascinated by science herself, not even flinching at the dissections she did. 'I always asked a lot of questions, it was kind of my niche,' she said. She applied to the Society for Science Advocate Program to become an advocate and help science students. Last year, she was accepted as an introductory advocate and helped three underserved students prepare for science, technology, engineeing and math research competitions. This year she's an amplification advocate and will do the same, but help students enter into new and/or multiple competitions. Watkins' advocacy this year will include being a science instructional coach, working with teachers to boost student learning through interactive lessons, new teaching strategies and other tools and resources. She's also a biology teacher. 'I pique their interests by making it interactive and interesting,' she said. 'I also use real-world scenarios so they can understand the concepts.' Zimmerman, a biology and anatomy teacher, received the Excellence in Encouraging Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion award from the National Association of Biology Teachers. She'll represent H-F at the association's professional development conference in St. Louis in October, where she'll receive a plaque, a $500 honorarium and complimentary membership. She said her passion for JEDI infuses her teaching. 'I believe every student deserves meaningful access to science education regardless of their background, language or life circumstances,' she said. Zimmerman said that perspective has influenced her work with English language learners. 'I've also supported students in recovery classes, helping them rebuild confidence and reconnect with learning,' she said. She's also worked in summer bridge programs to help students ease into high school. In fact, Zimmerman said she loves her field so much she tries to create a classroom where every student sees themselves as a scientist and learns from their mistakes. 'I love finding creative ways to make complex concepts understandable and fun,' she said. Zimmerman helped one student adopted from Africa, who was diagnosed with cancer during their unit on it. 'I supported her through homebound services, adapting instruction to her situation while also making sure she still felt included and empowered as a learner,' said Zimmerman. 'That experience reminded me that equity isn't about one size fits all, it's about meeting students where they are, academically and personally, and making sure they know they belong in the science classroom,' she said. Both teachers' have their admirers at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, from students to staff. Evan Roberts, science department lead, said Zimmerman's knowledge, experience and fresh idea have been essential to the department's growth. 'She has played an instrumental role in establishing our new anatomy and physiology course and does an excellent job of engaging students through a phenomena-driven approach,' Roberts said. 'Her deep understanding of storylining and the Next Generation Science Standards continues to benefit her peers and stimulate growth in their daily practice.' Roberts said he was equally impressed by what Watkins brings to the school, having known her for almost a decade. 'Mrs. Watkins always goes the extra mile,' he said. 'She tutors students who need additional support, and last year she was instrumental in helping one student realize that she could be successful in science.' That meant helping the student one-on-one after school and communicating with her parents, Roberts said. 'Examples like this are why I'm excited for the students who will have the opportunity to work with Mrs. Watkins — she sees and communicates the best of what they can do,' he said.
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Starlink Deal Makes Satellite Dish 50% Cheaper for New Customers. Here's How It Works
Starlink's satellite-based internet service has been a popular solution for people outside of traditional ISPs' service areas, and it just got a lot easier to give Starlink a try -- it's now featuring its lowest monthly prices ever and cutting the cost of the necessary equipment in half. You can now purchase the Starlink standard kit for $175, down from its usual $349 price tag. Unlike previous deals, this one is available to new customers anywhere in the country. Most Starlink deals in the past have been limited to areas with fewer users. Like the plan discounts, Starlink hasn't said how long the equipment deal will last. In the past, promotions have generally been around for several months. Don't miss any of CNET's unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome. Is Starlink your best option for internet service? Starlink has been a game changer for many people living in rural areas but I generally only recommend it as a last resort. That's partly because of its high price tag -- its standard rate of $120 per month is still far higher than the $78 average price in the US -- and partly because of its performance. According to a recent report from the speed test site Ookla, Starlink users receive median speeds of 105Mbps down and 15Mbps up. That's plenty of bandwidth for many households but it still falls short of what the Federal Communications Commission defines as broadband. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Starlink's median download speeds have nearly doubled since 2022, according to Ookla. Ookla The speeds you get from Starlink are also dependent on how many users there are in your area. One recent study from Penn State University found that Starlink's satellites can handle just 6.66 households per square mile before service starts to dip below the FCC's minimum standard. That doesn't mean you won't have enough speed to do everything you need online -- a Zoom meeting only requires about 4Mbps, for instance -- but it does give you an idea of how network congestion impacts Starlink. Now Playing: Tips for Mounting a Starlink Satellite Dish on Your Home 06:19 If there's a cable or fiber internet connection available at your address, I'm always going to recommend one of those over Starlink. They might come with their own frustrations, but they're almost always faster and cheaper than satellite providers. Read more: Choose the Best Internet Provider for Your Home With Help From an Expert To see what's available to you, enter your address on the FCC's broadband map. You'll see a list of providers, the type of technology they use and the speeds they say they can deliver.
Time Business News
a day ago
- Time Business News
The Rising Need for Editing in Scientific Publishing
Scientific research is extremely important. Scientists research numerous things to discover new information. Once they have conducted research, they put their findings in a paper. It is referred to as a scientific manuscript. A good manuscript is not simple and easy to write. It has to be understandable, correct, and stick to specific guidelines. Numerous scientists are excellent researchers. However, not all of them are great writers. This is why professional, scientific manuscript editing is increasing day by day. Manuscript editing includes correcting grammar errors, making sentences easier to understand, and structuring ideas effectively. Editors also review whether the paper is journal-compliant. This makes the paper accepted sooner. Most scientists desire their work to be read by numerous readers. Also, most scientists use English as their second language. Editing makes their communication easier. Due to this, more researchers are requesting professional editors. We are going to discuss in this blog why manuscript editing matters. We are going to describe the advantages of editing, who and where to use such services, and how to select a good editor. We are going to study how the demand for editing increases. You will get to the end of why professional manuscript editing is an essential part of academic publishing today. Numerous reasons make it clear why professional scientific and manuscript writing services are significant. In this section, we have mentioned a few of the reasons. Scientists deal with complicated ideas. At times, writing can be difficult to understand. Editors make sentences concise and readable. They correct grammatical and spelling errors. This enables readers to easily read the research. Journals have numerous regulations for papers. If a paper is not presented according to the rules, it can be rejected. Editors are aware of these rules. They help writers stick to the rules. Properly edited papers are more likely to be accepted. Research takes a lot of time. Writing also needs the same time. Many scientists are occupied with experiments. Editors help by refining the writing. This leaves researchers free time to concentrate on their work. Most researchers use English as a language of writing, but it is not their native language. This can lead to errors or ambiguous sentences. Editors help in resolving such issues. This improves the readability of the research. Many people use editing services. Some common users are: They are new researchers. They want help to write their first papers well. They want to make their papers perfect before sending them. They may need extra help with the English language and style. Some offer editing support to their staff and students. There are different types of scientific manuscript editing services. Each serves a different purpose. Type of Editing What It Does When to Use Proofreading Checks grammar, spelling, and punctuation Final check before submission Substantive Editing Improves sentence structure and flow When ideas need clearer writing Formatting Ensures paper follows journal style Before submitting to the journal Editing can make a big difference. Here is a simple table showing how editing improves paper quality. Paper Version Grammar Errors Clarity Score (out of 10) Acceptance Rate (%) Original Manuscript High 5 40 After Editing Low 8 75 Editing reduces errors and improves clarity, increasing acceptance chances. The need for editing services is increasing every year. More scientists want help with their papers. This is because publishing is very competitive. Researchers want to share their work with others quickly. Here is a chart showing the number of manuscripts edited in the last five years. Demand for editing services more than quadrupled in five years. Professional writers are important, and they help in different ways. If you are still not convinced to hire professional editors, then this section is for you. Here, we have mentioned the advantages of using professional editors. Editors improve the quality of writing. Journals prefer well-edited papers. Researchers spend less time fixing errors. Research ideas are clear and easy to understand. Researchers feel confident their paper is ready. Here are some tips for choosing the right editor: Tip Why It Matters Experience in Your Field Editors who know your subject help better. Good Reviews Positive feedback means reliable service. Offers Different Editing Types You can pick what kind of help you need. Knows Journal Guidelines Helps the paper follow the rules exactly. Confidentiality Promise Your work stays private and safe. Modern technology has made editing faster and smarter. Today, many editing services use AI tools to check spelling, grammar, and clarity. These tools help editors work more quickly and eliminate small mistakes. Still, human editors are very important. They understand meaning, tone, and subject better than machines. Humans and technology can both work together to make a strong team. This mix gives researchers better results in no time. As editing services grow, more platforms now offer quick online uploads, live support, and faster return times. This makes the whole process easier, especially for busy scientists around the world. How long does editing take? Usually, a few days to one week. Does editing guarantee acceptance? No, but it improves chances a lot. Can I edit my paper myself? Yes, but professionals catch more mistakes. In today's world, professional, scientific manuscript editing is very important. It helps researchers to write better papers and get them published as quickly as possible. Editing services are useful for everyone, specifically for those who do not speak English. The demand for editing is growing really fast. This is because academic publishing is getting super competitive over time. Good editing makes the paper simpler to read and understand. It also helps researchers in gaining confidence and saving time. If you want your research to be noticed and trusted, consider using professional manuscript editing services. A well-edited paper has a much better chance of success in academic journals. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
