SpaceX’s Starship rocket splashes down in the Pacific Ocean after orbiting the Earth for about three hours, cutting short its 14th mission on Monday, September 28.
The mission was supposed to last about 10 hours, but the SpaceX team decided to end it early.
The ship deployed 26 “next generation” Starlink V3 satellites, joining the existing constellation which deliver broadband internet on Earth
Earlier, there was drama as engineers had to decide if they would send the rocket to orbit after an engine issue.
SpaceX describes Starship as “the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed” and that it would eventually carry crew and cargo “to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond. “
A thunderous lift off, rapid satellite deployments and a fiery ending. That’s how SpaceX’s 14th launch of its Starship rocket panned out on Monday.
Starship, owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is made up of two parts, the booster, and the top section called the Ship. Minutes after the Monday launch from the base in Texas, the booster landed in the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the main goal being to make the ship section of the rocket orbit Earth for the first time.
An issue with one of the engines prompted discussion over whether the rocket would be sent into orbit, but it was eventually given the go ahead.
However, the craft only managed two laps of the Earth – rather than the six that had been planned – before SpaceX decided to end the mission early and bring it back to Earth.
Though the reason for the decision remains unknown, but the BBC said it would probe further, but added that SpaceX would still insist on being “delighted with how today went,” as they achieved their orbit goal.
Ultimately, SpaceX wants its rockets and spacecrafts to be reusable.
SpaceX CEO and world’s richest peeson, Musk frequently boasts that this will be a core feature of Starship and is an important part of the company’s business model.
The BBC recalled that SpaceX had previously pulled off spectacular catches of its rocket boosters in the signature “chop-stick” manoeuvre – when two giant pincers catch the fiery booster as they fall back to Earth, with the first happening in October 2024.
But in this launch, neither the booster nor spacecraft will be recovered for re-use, the report said. The booster landed in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Starship 14 capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
SpaceX usually try to collect the booster and capsules that return to Earth to analyse what happened to them during flight – that may not be possible with the Ship this time after it landed so explosively.
Analysing abrupt landing, BBC Climate and Science reporter, Georgina Rannard said, “This was the first time they were aiming to send Starship into Earth’s orbit – before now they had only made it to sub-orbit. They have now reached the velocity and height needed to propel it into orbit after deciding to push on after some drama over one engine not working properly.
“It was however supposed to be a nine-hour flight with three loops of the earth, but they’ve cut that down to two loops now.
“We don’t know why, but some observers have said the capsule was looking a bit ropey, and perhaps there were signs that SpaceX wanted to bring it back early just to be cautious.”
Rannard added: “That was not the soft splashdown that the 13th test flight saw back in July. Back then, there was no big fireball like the one we just witnessed.
“Nonetheless, huge cheers were heard from the crowd behind the SpaceX livestream when the rocket landed in the Pacific Ocean with a huge fireball.
“Now, both parts of the rocket are in the northern hemisphere.”
