SpaceX launched its Starship rocket from Starbase in Texas, reaching orbit cleanly before beginning the deployment of 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites, as Wiadomości Onet reported.
Super Heavy Booster Controlled Descent
The Super Heavy booster was not caught by the mechanical arms at the launch tower as originally planned, according to Wiadomości Onet. The rocket was redirected to another zone where it broke apart during a controlled descent.
Each Starlink V3 satellite will increase network capacity by one terabit. This capacity matches the output of ten Falcon 9 launches carrying smaller satellite versions, rmf24.pl reported.
🚨 BREAKING: $SPCX Super Heavy booster just exploded over the Gulf after its tower catch was called off during today's Starship test flight in Texas 🚀 It's Friday the 13th, and look at today alone: 1️⃣ The FAA grounded every flight in the country over a communications outage.…
Three of the Starlink V3 units carry modified cameras to monitor the second stage thermal protection shield, according to Geekweek Interia.
Orbiting Earth 14 Times
Starship travels at an altitude of approximately 275 kilometers above Earth, Wiadomości Onet reported. The mission lasts more than 22 hours, during which the spacecraft will circle the planet 14 times.
The spacecraft must fly above sparsely populated regions of Mexico and Texas to reduce risk during atmospheric reentry, according to TVN24.
NASA and SpaceX Plan Lunar Landings with Starship by 2028
NASA selected the SpaceX Starship as a lunar lander for the Artemis program, tvn24.pl reported. The space agency has provided about $3,2 miliarda dolarów in funding since 2021.
SpaceX has invested at least $15 miliardów dolarów of its own funds into developing the rocket, tvn24.pl noted. NASA and SpaceX expect Starship to land humans on the Moon by 2028.
The mission ends with Starship attempting to land and be caught by the launch tower robotic arms, a first maneuver for the vehicle, Wiadomości Onet reported.
Earlier coverage: SpaceX Launches 15th Starship Flight, Successfully Delivers Satellites to Orbit
