SpaceX's Starship, the most powerful rocket ever constructed, marked a significant achievement with its third test launch. During its third test flight from Boca Chica, Texas, a SpaceX Starship rocket achieved significant milestones before possibly disintegrating. The test, lasting nearly an hour, aimed for a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, setting the stage for more advanced missions and eventual NASA astronaut transportation to the moon. However, upon reentry, the mission team lost critical communications with both SpaceX's Starlink and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS).
Earlier in 2022, SpaceX also launched the Falcon 9, a medium-lift launch vehicle designed to transport cargo and humans to Earth's orbit and the International Space Station (ISS). By September 2022, Falcon 9 had achieved the highest number of launches among medium-and heavy-lift launch vehicles.
According to a report by BIS Research, the global medium and heavy-lift launch vehicle market is estimated to reach $9.75 billion in 2032 from $6.45 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 3.90% during the forecast period 2022-2032.
Buoyed by Falcon 9's success, SpaceX scientists pushed the boundaries further with the creation of Falcon Heavy. SpaceX reports that Falcon Heavy is capable of carrying a payload heavier than a fully loaded 737 jetliner, including passengers, crew, luggage, and fuel, into orbit.
Despite the rocket's failure to complete its mission fully, achieving a planned hard splashdown, SpaceX has confirmed the success of several mission objectives. These included testing the payload door's operation, crucial for satellite deployment, and a first attempt at atmospheric re-entry, a critical milestone for future reusable spacecraft.
SpaceX views early test flight failures as part of the learning process, aiming to refine Starship for future missions. Launched from SpaceX's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, at 8:25 a.m. CT, the Starship vehicle, comprising the upper spacecraft and the Super Heavy rocket booster, embarked on its journey.
The Starship system, including the Super Heavy booster, is vital for SpaceX's goal to transport humans to Mars. NASA has selected Starship for the Artemis III mission to the moon, planned for as early as September 2026, highlighting its significance to space exploration.
Starship's journey was marked by significant progress and challenges. Its Super Heavy booster, producing unprecedented thrust, failed to achieve a successful water landing, prompting an FAA "mishap" investigation. Nevertheless, the test highlighted SpaceX's rapid trial-and-error development approach, showcasing impressive capabilities such as reaching speeds over 16,000 mph and altitudes beyond 200 kilometers.
To further explore deep space, NASA has collaborated with SpaceX. The space agencies have planned to launch the deep space exploration mission to asteroid Psyche on October 12, 2023.
SpaceX's CEO, Elon Musk, has stated that a key objective of the initial Starship test flights is achieving the necessary velocities for orbital insertion, meaning speeds fast enough for the spacecraft to maintain a stable orbit around Earth. This typically demands surpassing speeds of 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour). While Starship achieved its goal of reaching these orbital speeds, it did not intend to enter orbit during this flight.
Despite setbacks in previous tests, SpaceX's innovative strategy continues to push the boundaries of space exploration. As the company gears up for NASA's moon landing missions and beyond, the global space community watches closely, recognizing the critical steps being taken towards making life multiplanetary.
