Today was the day. After Monday’s anticipated launch of SpaceX’s Starship, the world’s largest rocket, was scrapped due to an apparent valve issue, liftoff was set for Thursday morning, from the SpaceX Starbase in Boca Chica, near the southern tip of Texas.
Per SpaceX:
Starship is a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond. With a test such as this, success is measured by how much we can learn, which will inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances development of Starship.
Liftoff of Starship! pic.twitter.com/4t8mRP37Gp
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 20, 2023
The launch took place shortly after 8:30 am CDT — with loud cheers audible in the background.
SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk celebrated the launch, as well.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2023
Unfortunately, while liftoff happened, the rocket’s flight was short-lived as it exploded in mid-air in spectacular fashion.
BREAKING FOOTAGE 🚀 SpaceX #Starship, world’s biggest rocket, explodes during test flight pic.twitter.com/LDcGLB70vJ
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 20, 2023
SpaceX, in understated fashion, acknowledged the Starship experienced a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” before its stage separation.
As if the flight test was not exciting enough, Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly before stage separation
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 20, 2023
Obviously, a bit of a disappointment for the SpaceX crew (and space nerds — like me — around the world), but Musk remained sanguine about it, congratulating his team and noting: “Learned a lot for next test launch in a few months.”
Congrats @SpaceX team on an exciting test launch of Starship!
Learned a lot for next test launch in a few months. pic.twitter.com/gswdFut1dK
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2023
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