SpaceX's Starship: A Milestone Amidst Challenges

Elon Musk and the SpaceX team can collectively heave a sigh of relief. After multiple days of postponements, Starship finally executed its 10th test flight from the launch pad at Starbase, Texas.

Launch Details

SpaceX's colossal and most potent rocket ascended on Tuesday, August 26, at 7:30 pm ET. It soared to an altitude of 192 kilometers and initiated a sub - orbital trajectory at a speed exceeding 26,000 kilometers per hour, heading towards the Indian Ocean. The spacecraft splashed down precisely one hour after liftoff.

Intense Public Interest

The liftoff on Tuesday generated far - reaching anticipation, significantly surpassing that of other recent SpaceX test flights. Over 1.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the livestream on the company's X account. The intense interest can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the catastrophic failure on June 18, which led to a massive explosion and the destruction of Starship vehicle 36, along with other past mishaps, had piqued public curiosity. Additionally, the program has faced protests from activists and citizens in Texas, who are alarmed by the environmental impact of testing and maneuvers in and around Starbase. The Mexican government has also voiced concerns over the debris that has landed in its territory.

Strategic Significance

Starship holds a pivotal position in Elon Musk's vision of colonizing Mars. Moreover, its success is crucial for its relationship with the US government, which is SpaceX's largest customer.

Design Architecture

Starship is engineered as a fully reusable space transportation system, composed of two main components. The Super Heavy, a booster equipped with a set of 33 Raptor engines, supplies the requisite thrust to escape Earth's gravity. The Starship spacecraft, on the other hand, is tasked with transporting crew and cargo to outer space.

Mission Achievements

During its 10th flight test, Starship not only completed a journey halfway around the globe but also deployed eight Starlink simulators. These simulators are comparable in size to the next - generation Starlink (V3) satellites. They were successfully deployed when Starship reached an altitude of 190 kilometers over the Atlantic Ocean within half an hour of liftoff. Tests were also conducted on other vehicle components, such as the Super Heavy's ability to execute a successful splashdown in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico minutes after liftoff.

Reentry and Outcome

As Starship readied for reentry at a speed of 26,660 kilometers per hour, its outer shell sustained some damage. Nevertheless, one hour and six minutes after liftoff, it managed to reach its destination intact. However, when it attempted a vertical landing over the ocean, vehicle 37 was predictably destroyed. Despite this, it was an eventful day for the SpaceX team, with a wealth of data awaiting analysis.

This story was originally published on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.