on its ninth launch, the Starship rocket lost altitude control
The launch of Musk’s giant, multi-billion-dollar mega rocket: A test flight to the outer epoch of space
Elon Musk’s giant, multi-billion-dollar mega rocket launched again from Texas on Tuesday evening for another test flight. A leak in the rocket’s altitude control made a controlled landing unlikely, according to the commentators during the flight’s livestream.
Two spectacular failures of the test vehicles earlier this year resulted in a scramble for aircraft and debris in the Caribbean.
Starship is the largest rocket ever built. On this flight, its lower stage, known as “Super Heavy,” used 33 powerful engines to lift Starship to the edge of space. The six engines of Super Heavy were burning when Starship separated from them. It flew around earth for less than an hour, while conducting numerous tests. Several dummy satellites were supposed to be used for launch but the door on the ship was not open.
SpaceX Launches Violation of Clean Water and Environmental Laws. I. Announcing the First Test Flight of the SpaceX Super Heavy Booster
Super Heavy will come back and land in the Gulf. In previous test flights, the booster is caught by a pair of giant mechanical “chopsticks” as it lands. SpaceX wants to test whether a booster without one of its three engines can land successfully in the water. The engine will be deliberately disabled to see if the booster can compensate using other engines on board.
Environmentalists have been scrutinizing the location of the launchpad, which is near a state park and federal wildlife refuge. Environmentalists have looked at the launches. There are records from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that show SpaceX has made a grave violation of the Clean Water Act. Last September, the agencies collectively fined Musk about $150,000 last September for the infractions. Additionally, a report by the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program concluded that SpaceX launches have destroyed the nests of vulnerable shorebirds.
The failures are different than in the previous flight testing, the company said after investigating the second incident.
Tonight is a launch window that lasts for one hour. SpaceX will begin broadcasting on its website and on X around 30 minutes before the launch.
