SpaceX launches Starship on test flight with advanced Starlink satellites
SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on a test flight from its facility in southern Texas on Friday, carrying a set of upgraded Starlink satellites. The 407-foot (124-metre) rocket is the world's largest and most powerful, and the mission was closely monitored by NASA as part of preparations for using Starship as a lunar lander.
The flight was the 13th for Starship and the second this year of the upgraded V3 version. During the previous test in May, engine problems prevented the booster from making a controlled return. For this flight, SpaceX replaced six of the 33 engines on the first-stage booster after they failed to ignite during a launch attempt last week, leading to a last-second abort.
Neither the booster nor the spacecraft was intended to be recovered. The booster was set to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, while the stainless steel spacecraft was targeted for a controlled descent into the Indian Ocean, more than 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometres) from the launch site. The entire flight was expected to last about an hour.
The primary payload for this test was a batch of advanced Starlink satellites. After separating from the Starship, the satellites were to deploy their solar panels and antennas, then attempt to communicate using laser links with older Starlink models already in orbit. Six of the new satellites carried cameras to photograph the Starship's heat shield during flight.
The heat shield itself was fitted with sensors to measure pressure during launch. Some of its thermal tiles were deliberately painted white to simulate missing tiles, as part of an experiment to test the shield's durability. SpaceX aims to ensure the heat shield can withstand reentry before attempting to recover the spacecraft using the giant mechanical arms at its launch pad.
NASA requires Starship to complete testing and reach orbit to support the Artemis III mission, which will carry three American astronauts and one Italian astronaut to the moon. The astronauts are scheduled to practice docking their capsule with Starship next year.
SpaceX's founder, Elon Musk, has also stated that Starship is intended to eventually transport humans to Mars. The company has already begun taking reservations for tourist trips around the moon and to Mars.
The launch was originally scheduled for July 16 but was aborted at the last second. A second attempt on July 24 was delayed due to thick clouds from Tropical Storm Bertha. The successful launch marks another step in the development of the fully reusable rocket system.
