SpaceX launched its Starship vehicle for the second time on Saturday. The first flight of the world’s most powerful rocket took place in April. However, it ended in a complete fiasco. Just a few minutes after launch, it exploded into a spectacular fireball. Unlike the first test flight, this time the second stage Starship spacecraft was able to successfully separate from the first stage super heavy booster. However, a few minutes later the booster exploded during descent. The spacecraft also could not complete its flight. Elon Musk evaluated the details of the second flight of the Starship Rocket. Here are the details….
Elon Musk evaluated the new launch pad design of the Starship Rocket!
Finally, the expected test flight took place on Saturday. However, the spacecraft again did not show the expected performance. It successfully separated from the super heavy booster. Unfortunately, it exploded 8 minutes after launch. It self-destructed over the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX employees and Elon Musk still evaluate this situation positively.
Still, since SpaceX achieved stage separation, they counted the mission as a success. The team learned a lot from this mission. He collected a lot of data. It will use the data collected to improve the flight system for the third test flight.
But it wasn’t just the rocket that SpaceX engineers evaluated. They also evaluated the new launch pad design. They redesigned the launch pad, which was shattered in the previous test, for the new test. They wanted to see how the new design withstood the pressure and force released by the super-heavy thruster.
Elon Musk made an evaluation for the new launch pad of the Starship Rocket on Sunday. Musk stated that the ramp is in “excellent condition.” He added that it worked very well and there was no need for any renewal for the next flight.
Just inspected the Starship launch pad and it is in great condition!
No refurbishment needed to the water-cooled steel plate for next launch.
Congrats to @Spacex team & contractors for engineering & building such a robust system so rapidly! pic.twitter.com/py5m1uhtEi
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 19, 2023
The Starship Rocket’s new launch pad design incorporates a flood system, as Musk previously described. In addition, this ramp was protected against the thrust generated by the super-heavy thruster during takeoff with a new material called “mega steel flat”.
Following Saturday’s test mission, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said no injuries or property damage were reported as a result of the mid-air explosions. The FAA will now oversee the SpaceX-led mission investigation before deciding on the conditions needed for a third test flight.
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