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Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What happened on last Starship flight? SpaceX releases report ahead of next test
SpaceX has released the findings of its investigation into the most recent explosion of the company's Starship as the massive launch vehicle prepares to get off the ground once again. The previous flight test in March ended with the Starship's upper portion breaking apart in the sky in second consecutive fiery mishap for a vehicle due to play a large role in U.S. spaceflight in the years ahead. An ongoing investigation into the flight is what held up SpaceX from launching Starship again from South Texas. But regulators decided earlier in May to allow billionaire Elon Musk's company to move forward with its next test mission, referred to as Flight 9, after determining that SpaceX met all licensing requirements. That included submitting to the Federal Aviation Administration a report on the Flight 8 mishap, which SpaceX said ultimately prompted mission teams to make several modifications to the vehicle for its next launch. "Starship is designed to fundamentally change and enhance humanity's ability to reach space," SpaceX wrote on its website under a post titled, "Fly. Learn. Repeat." "This step change in capability won't happen overnight and progress towards that goal won't always come in leaps." Here's what SpaceX determined caused the March explosion of Starship, as well as what to expect for the upcoming flight test. Starship Flight 9: Here's what SpaceX is planning for the launch SpaceX has announced that it is targeting Tuesday, May 27, for Starship's ninth flight test. Liftoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from SpaceX's Starbase, the company's headquarters in Boca Chica about 23 miles from Brownsville near the U.S.-Mexico border. The launch got the green light May 21 after the FAA determined that SpaceX met 'all of the rigorous safety, environmental and other licensing requirements.' How to watch Starship: SpaceX to provide livestream of South Texas launch The first two Starship tests of 2025 have been marred by explosions. In the most recent launch March 6, flight operators lost contact with the upper portion of Starship, which exploded less than 10 minutes into the flight, creating debris visible from Florida to the Caribbean. Despite the failure of the Starship vehicle, the spacecraft's rocket booster managed to navigate back to the launch pad for the second time in a row, and third time overall. The maneuver, first completed in October 2024, involves SpaceX catching the booster with giant mechanical arms known as chopsticks. After the first Starship demonstration of 2025 also ended in an explosion, SpaceX later traced the culprit to a series of propellant leaks and fires in the aft section of the vehicle, commonly referred to as the attic. But in the latest fiery mishap in March, it wasn't a fire in the attic, but rather a "flash" closer to the bottom section, SpaceX wrote May 22. Mission operators noticed the flash about five-and-a-half minutes into Starship's ascent burn, followed by what SpaceX called "an energetic event" that led to the loss of one of its Raptor engines. Within about two minutes, the remaining five of the vehicle's six Raptor engines also subsequently shut down, causing the vehicle to veer out of control. This led to the communication breakdown and the vehicle to trigger its own self destruction, SpaceX concluded. Starship eventually reentered Earth's atmosphere within its designated launch corridor and broke apart. SpaceX identified "the most probably root cause" of the mishap as a hardware failure in one of the upper stage's Raptor engines "that resulted in inadvertent propellant mixing and ignition." "Extensive ground testing has taken place since the flight test to better understand the failure, including more than 100 long-duration Raptor firings," SpaceX wrote. The company has frequently stressed that its rapid and frequent testing are expected to sometimes lead to such explosive ends, but that even failed launches can provide data that helps engineers improve Starship's design. After SpaceX submitted a mishap report to the FAA, the agency released a statement May 22 indicating it had "conducted a comprehensive safety review of the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 mishap." After federal regulators determined that SpaceX "satisfactorily addressed the causes of the mishap," Starship was approved to return to flight. For Starship's next launch, SpaceX released a flight plan that calls for attempting a few key objectives to prepare Starship for more frequent flights. SpaceX will also take a third shot at a Starlink payload deployment test – a key capability for the vehicle in the future that was called off during both previous launches. The eight Starlink simulators, similar in size and weight to next-generation Starlink satellites, will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to burn up on reentry. SpaceX intends to reuse for the first time a Super Heavy booster rocket that has launched before. For that reason, the FAA also noted that it would expand the size of the hazard zones designating areas for aircraft to avoid. SpaceX is developing Starship to be a fully reusable transportation system, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. In the years ahead, Starship is intended to carry both cargo and humans to Earth's orbit and deeper into the cosmos. NASA's lunar exploration plans, which appear to be in jeopardy under President Donald Trump's proposed budget, call for Artemis III astronauts aboard the Orion capsule to board the Starship while in orbit for a ride to the moon's surface. But Musk is more preoccupied with Starship reaching Mars – potentially, he has claimed, by the end of 2026. Under his vision, human expeditions aboard the Starship could then follow in the years after the first uncrewed spacecraft reaches the Red Planet. Starship is regarded as the world's largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever developed. At more than 400 total feet in height, Starship towers over SpaceX's famous Falcon 9 rocket – one of the world's most active – which stands at nearly 230 feet. The launch vehicle is composed of both a 232-foot Super Heavy rocket and the 171-foot upper stage spacecraft, or capsule or crew and cargo would ride. Super Heavy alone is powered by 33 of SpaceX's Raptor engines that give the initial burst of thrust at liftoff. The upper section, also called Starship or Ship for short, is the upper stage powered by six Raptor engines that will ultimately travel in orbit. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did Starship explode? SpaceX releases report ahead of next test
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Science
- USA Today
What happened on last Starship flight? SpaceX releases report ahead of next test
What happened on last Starship flight? SpaceX releases report ahead of next test The previous flight test in May ended with the Starship's upper portion breaking apart in the sky in a second consecutive fiery mishap. Show Caption Hide Caption SpaceX Starship debris falls to Earth after rocket 'disassembly' SpaceX said it lost contact with its Starship rocket, which Elon Musk's company said "experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly." In the latest fiery mishap in March, it wasn't a fire in the attic as occurred in January, but rather a "flash" closer to the bottom section. After SpaceX submitted a mishap report to the FAA, the agency gave approval for Starship to launch again as early as May 27. For Starship's next launch, SpaceX released a flight plan that calls for attempting a few key objectives to prepare Starship for more frequent flights. SpaceX has released the findings of its investigation into the most recent explosion of the company's Starship as the massive launch vehicle prepares to get off the ground once again. The previous flight test in March ended with the Starship's upper portion breaking apart in the sky in second consecutive fiery mishap for a vehicle due to play a large role in U.S. spaceflight in the years ahead. An ongoing investigation into the flight is what held up SpaceX from launching Starship again from South Texas. But regulators decided earlier in May to allow billionaire Elon Musk's company to move forward with its next test mission, referred to as Flight 9, after determining that SpaceX met all licensing requirements. That included submitting to the Federal Aviation Administration a report on the Flight 8 mishap, which SpaceX said ultimately prompted mission teams to make several modifications to the vehicle for its next launch. "Starship is designed to fundamentally change and enhance humanity's ability to reach space," SpaceX wrote on its website under a post titled, "Fly. Learn. Repeat." "This step change in capability won't happen overnight and progress towards that goal won't always come in leaps." Here's what SpaceX determined caused the March explosion of Starship, as well as what to expect for the upcoming flight test. Starship Flight 9: Here's what SpaceX is planning for the launch SpaceX rocket launch: When is Starship flight 9 from Texas? SpaceX has announced that it is targeting Tuesday, May 27, for Starship's ninth flight test. Liftoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from SpaceX's Starbase, the company's headquarters in Boca Chica about 23 miles from Brownsville near the U.S.-Mexico border. The launch got the green light May 21 after the FAA determined that SpaceX met 'all of the rigorous safety, environmental and other licensing requirements.' How to watch Starship: SpaceX to provide livestream of South Texas launch What happened on the last Starship launch? Did SpaceX Starship explode? The first two Starship tests of 2025 have been marred by explosions. In the most recent launch March 6, flight operators lost contact with the upper portion of Starship, which exploded less than 10 minutes into the flight, creating debris visible from Florida to the Caribbean. Despite the failure of the Starship vehicle, the spacecraft's rocket booster managed to navigate back to the launch pad for the second time in a row, and third time overall. The maneuver, first completed in October 2024, involves SpaceX catching the booster with giant mechanical arms known as chopsticks. SpaceX releases report on Starship flight 8 After the first Starship demonstration of 2025 also ended in an explosion, SpaceX later traced the culprit to a series of propellant leaks and fires in the aft section of the vehicle, commonly referred to as the attic. But in the latest fiery mishap in March, it wasn't a fire in the attic, but rather a "flash" closer to the bottom section, SpaceX wrote May 22. Mission operators noticed the flash about five-and-a-half minutes into Starship's ascent burn, followed by what SpaceX called "an energetic event" that led to the loss of one of its Raptor engines. Within about two minutes, the remaining five of the vehicle's six Raptor engines also subsequently shut down, causing the vehicle to veer out of control. This led to the communication breakdown and the vehicle to trigger its own self destruction, SpaceX concluded. Starship eventually reentered Earth's atmosphere within its designated launch corridor and broke apart. SpaceX identified "the most probably root cause" of the mishap as a hardware failure in one of the upper stage's Raptor engines "that resulted in inadvertent propellant mixing and ignition." "Extensive ground testing has taken place since the flight test to better understand the failure, including more than 100 long-duration Raptor firings," SpaceX wrote. The company has frequently stressed that its rapid and frequent testing are expected to sometimes lead to such explosive ends, but that even failed launches can provide data that helps engineers improve Starship's design. FAA gives SpaceX green light for Starship to launch After SpaceX submitted a mishap report to the FAA, the agency released a statement May 22 indicating it had "conducted a comprehensive safety review of the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 mishap." After federal regulators determined that SpaceX "satisfactorily addressed the causes of the mishap," Starship was approved to return to flight. What is SpaceX planning for next Starship test flight? For Starship's next launch, SpaceX released a flight plan that calls for attempting a few key objectives to prepare Starship for more frequent flights. SpaceX will also take a third shot at a Starlink payload deployment test – a key capability for the vehicle in the future that was called off during both previous launches. The eight Starlink simulators, similar in size and weight to next-generation Starlink satellites, will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship and are expected to burn up on reentry. SpaceX intends to reuse for the first time a Super Heavy booster rocket that has launched before. For that reason, the FAA also noted that it would expand the size of the hazard zones designating areas for aircraft to avoid. What is Starship? SpaceX is developing Starship to be a fully reusable transportation system, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. In the years ahead, Starship is intended to carry both cargo and humans to Earth's orbit and deeper into the cosmos. NASA's lunar exploration plans, which appear to be in jeopardy under President Donald Trump's proposed budget, call for Artemis III astronauts aboard the Orion capsule to board the Starship while in orbit for a ride to the moon's surface. But Musk is more preoccupied with Starship reaching Mars – potentially, he has claimed, by the end of 2026. Under his vision, human expeditions aboard the Starship could then follow in the years after the first uncrewed spacecraft reaches the Red Planet. How big is Starship? Starship is regarded as the world's largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever developed. At more than 400 total feet in height, Starship towers over SpaceX's famous Falcon 9 rocket – one of the world's most active – which stands at nearly 230 feet. The launch vehicle is composed of both a 232-foot Super Heavy rocket and the 171-foot upper stage spacecraft, or capsule or crew and cargo would ride. Super Heavy alone is powered by 33 of SpaceX's Raptor engines that give the initial burst of thrust at liftoff. The upper section, also called Starship or Ship for short, is the upper stage powered by six Raptor engines that will ultimately travel in orbit. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
SpaceX reveals cause of Starship Flight 8 explosion
SpaceX has finally revealed what caused its giant Starship rocket to explode during its March 6 test flight. The spacecraft, launched from Starbase in Texas, was expected to drop fake satellites and land in the Indian Ocean, but instead, it broke apart in the sky. The problem came from one of the rocket's engines, where a sudden spark led to a dangerous fuel reaction. After the rocket began to spin out of control, an automatic system triggered its destruction. Now that the issue has been identified and fixed, SpaceX is preparing for its next test flight on May 27. What went wrong during the SpaceX flight 8 The Starship rocket has two parts: the lower stage (called Super Heavy) helps the rocket lift off the ground, while the upper stage (called Ship) carries out the main mission in space. During Flight 8, the Super Heavy booster performed mostly as planned, though a few of its engines had issues during the return trip. The problem happened in the upper stage. Just minutes into the flight, a flash near one of the engines led to a major failure. The rocket quickly lost control and had to be blown up by a safety system. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The technical reason behind the explosion SpaceX found that the root cause of the explosion was a hardware failure inside one of the central engines. This caused fuel and oxidizer, two highly flammable substances, to accidentally mix and ignite where they shouldn't. That 'flash' created what SpaceX calls an 'energetic event,' which shut down several engines and sent the rocket tumbling. Shortly after, the spacecraft lost communication, and its self-destruct system activated as a precaution. Fixes made by SpaceX To prevent this from happening again, SpaceX made several improvements to the rocket. They added stronger insulation, tightened important connections, improved fuel systems, and even included a nitrogen purge system to keep dangerous gases from building up. SpaceX also tested their engines over 100 times after the accident to make sure the problem wouldn't repeat. These upgrades will be included in the next Starship flight. Green light for the next launch The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reviewed SpaceX's investigation and agreed that the company had properly fixed the issues. With the green light from regulators, SpaceX is now set to launch Starship Flight 9 on May 27. This flight will be special. It will be the first time SpaceX reuses a Super Heavy booster from a previous mission. Like Flight 8, the mission will involve testing key systems and simulating satellite deployments. What this means for the future SpaceX is using these test flights to prepare Starship for future missions, including sending people and cargo to the Moon and Mars. Each test, even those that fail, helps the company improve the rocket's design. With lessons learned from Flight 8, SpaceX hopes Flight 9 will go much further and bring them one step closer to deep space exploration.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
FAA clears SpaceX Starship's Flight 9 after Flight 8 explosion review
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted SpaceX approval to proceed with the ninth launch of its massive Starship rocket, following an extensive review of the explosive anomaly that occurred during its previous flight. On 22 May, the FAA confirmed that SpaceX had adequately addressed the issues from Flight 8, which ended in the destruction of the Starship's upper stage over the Atlantic Ocean in March. With corrective actions in place, SpaceX now has the green light to continue testing the world's most powerful and fully reusable rocket system. What are increased safety measures for SpaceX Flight 9 As part of the authorisation, the FAA expanded the designated Aircraft Hazard Area (AHA) for Flight 9 to approximately 1,600 nautical miles. This zone now stretches eastward from the Texas launch site through the Straits of Florida and includes The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. For comparison, the AHA for Flight 8 covered around 885 nautical miles. To minimise disruption to both domestic and international air traffic, the FAA stipulated that the upcoming launch must take place during non-peak transit hours. This requirement reflects the growing scale and complexity of Starship test operations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Flight 8 failure and investigation The mishap on 6 March involved the upper stage of the Starship, simply known as 'Ship,' which exploded less than 10 minutes after lift-off. Debris from the 52-metre-tall vehicle fell into the Atlantic Ocean, impacting areas including The Bahamas. The rocket's first stage booster, Super Heavy, successfully returned to SpaceX's Starbase site in Texas, where it was caught by the tower's mechanical 'chopstick' arms—a repeat of its performance during Flight 7. Following the incident, the FAA launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the explosion, ultimately determining that the company had implemented satisfactory corrective measures. Only after this process did the agency grant authorisation for another test flight. Reusing key components A significant milestone for Flight 9 is the planned reuse of the same Super Heavy booster that flew on Flight 7. SpaceX has long promoted the idea of full reusability as key to reducing the cost of space travel and achieving future goals such as moon bases and Mars colonisation. By successfully recovering and preparing this booster for another launch, the company aims to demonstrate a crucial capability in its broader Starship programme. Launch date of Flight 9 and future goals Although SpaceX has not officially announced a launch date for Flight 9, notices related to airspace closures suggest that Tuesday, 27 May, could be a potential window. When fully stacked, Starship and Super Heavy measure over 122 metres tall, making it the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed. Both stages are designed for rapid reuse, and successful testing is considered a major step toward operational flights that could support NASA's Artemis missions and commercial ventures. Flight 9 represents more than just a continuation of Starship's development—it is a critical demonstration of SpaceX's ability to learn from failures and iterate quickly. With FAA approval now in place, attention turns to whether the ninth flight will finally bring both the Super Heavy and Ship components back safely, setting the stage for a new era in space launch capabilities.
India Today
15-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Elon Musk to reveal Mars gameplan before Starship Super Heavy launch next week
SpaceX is gearing up for the ninth test flight of its massive Starship rocket, with liftoff scheduled for next week from the company's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, much-anticipated launch will mark another critical step in SpaceX's quest to develop a fully reusable spacecraft capable of carrying humans to the Moon, Mars, and Musk, SpaceX's CEO, confirmed the launch window and added excitement by announcing that he will deliver a special company talk at Starbase outlining SpaceX's detailed plan for reaching and settling 'We're making great progress with Starship,' Musk posted on social media. 'After the next flight, I'll give a talk at Starbase explaining our Mars game plan in detail.'The upcoming test flight will focus on improving Starship's re-entry and landing systems, following the partial successes and spectacular explosions seen in earlier flights. The last test, Flight 8, achieved several milestones, including a successful stage separation and controlled descent, but ended with the vehicle breaking apart during have since made modifications to the heat shield and flight software, hoping to achieve a soft splashdown this standing nearly 400 feet tall, is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. It is designed to be fully reusable, with both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage intended to return to Earth for rapid turnaround launches. advertisementThe rocket is central to Nasa's Artemis program for returning astronauts to the Moon and is a key part of Musk's vision for making humanity a multiplanetary presentation is expected to provide new insights into how Starship will pave the way for human missions to Mars in the coming Watch
