contrasting results for the launch of the Starship rocket

Last second of a long wait, Saturday November 18, in Boca Chica (Texas, United States). SpaceX successfully launched Starship, the most powerful and largest rocket in the world, 120 m high. Around 2 p.m., it takes off, propelled by its 33 engines, at thousands of kilometers per hour. Second challenge met: arriving at an altitude of almost 75 kilometers, the two stages separate to leave the ship alone to reach space. But barely time to savor, hope ends.

“Improve Starship reliability”

A few minutes later, the first stage with the engines explodes, then it’s the ship’s turn. Second apparent failure for billionaire Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. His XXL rocket had already exploded last April. However, no one wants to talk about defeat. “It’s a huge progress not to have destroyed the launch pad, to have made all 33 engines work together. Having succeeded in separating the Starship from its booster is also a success“, analyzes Jean-Luc Dauvergne, journalist at Ciel et Espace. SpaceX is delighted about it on the social networkToday’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multi-planetary.“A hope, as NASA scrutinizes the company’s progress.