SpaceX Starship Launch Ends in Failure as Contact Lost Midflight

SpaceX Starship Launch Ends in Failure as Contact Lost Midflight \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ SpaceX launched another Starship rocket on Thursday, but lost contact minutes into the flight as the spacecraft tumbled out of control. The test mission, intended to last an hour, was cut short when engines failed, causing the craft to spin uncontrollably. This marks another setback for SpaceX’s ambitious Mars and Moon plans, despite recent design improvements.

SpaceX Starship Test Failure: Quick Looks

• Launch from Texas – The 403-foot rocket blasted off successfully before losing control.
• Booster Successfully Recovered – The first-stage booster was caught at the launch pad.
• Spacecraft Malfunction – Engine shutdowns led to an uncontrolled spin.
• Mission Cut Short – Planned one-hour flight ended prematurely, mock satellites not deployed.
• NASA’s Moon Plans Affected? – Starship is contracted for future Artemis lunar landings.

Deep Look

Starship’s Launch Ends in Midflight Failure

Just two months after a previous test ended in an explosion over the Atlantic, SpaceX’s latest Starship launch suffered a similar fate, with the company losing contact with the spacecraft minutes into the flight.

The 403-foot (123-meter) Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, lifted off from Boca Chica, Texas just before sunset on Thursday. While the first-stage booster successfully returned to the launch pad and was caught using SpaceX’s massive mechanical arms, the spacecraft itself encountered serious problems as it ascended.

Initially, the mission appeared to be going smoothly. Starship reached an altitude of nearly 90 miles (150 kilometers)—just shy of the official boundary of space—before things went wrong. As the rocket streaked eastward, multiple engine shutdowns led to an out-of-control spin, causing SpaceX to lose contact with the craft.

“Unfortunately, this happened last time too, so we have some practice at this now,” said SpaceX flight commentator Dan Huot, acknowledging the setback.

Mission Objectives and What Went Wrong

The one-hour test flight was supposed to demonstrate SpaceX’s progress in controlling Starship’s reentry and landing process. The ultimate goal was for Starship to safely splash down in the Indian Ocean. However, the test failed before the craft could reach its target, and it was not immediately clear where the spacecraft came down.

This test was also meant to release four mock satellites, designed to simulate SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites, but the premature failure meant they never deployed.

Thursday’s mishap echoes SpaceX’s last test flight, in which the Starship spacecraft exploded over the Atlantic after successfully separating from its booster.

Recurring Issues: Fuel Leaks and Fire Risks

Following the previous failure, SpaceX conducted an investigation and determined that fuel leaks triggered a chain reaction of fires, which ultimately led to the loss of the spacecraft. The self-destruct system engaged automatically as a safety measure.

In response, SpaceX made several design changes to improve:

• The spacecraft’s flaps for better aerodynamic control.
• The onboard computer system to enhance stability.
• The fuel system to reduce fire risk.

Despite these upgrades, Thursday’s launch suggests that significant challenges remain in making Starship a reliable, reusable space vehicle.

NASA’s Moon and Mars Plans Depend on Starship

Starship is a key part of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon later this decade. NASA has contracted SpaceX to develop Starship as a lunar lander for upcoming missions.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has even bigger ambitions, envisioning Starship as the vehicle that will one day carry humans to Mars. However, repeated midflight failures raise concerns about whether SpaceX can achieve full reliability before high-stakes crewed missions begin.

Despite the setbacks, NASA remains committed to Starship as part of its Moon program. The space agency understands that experimental flights often require multiple attempts before success is achieved.

The Future of Starship: More Testing to Come

Although Thursday’s failure is a setback, SpaceX is already preparing for future launches. The company received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to resume Starship flights after completing its last investigation.

Starship launches currently take place at Boca Chica, Texas, but SpaceX is building a second launch complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida—home to its Falcon rockets, which regularly launch satellites and astronauts into orbit.

For now, SpaceX will need to analyze what went wrong in this latest test and apply further improvements before attempting another launch.

With the company’s rapid testing philosophy, another Starship launch could take place in the coming months, as SpaceX continues refining what it hopes will be the future of deep-space travel.

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