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SpaceX\u2019s Starship taking off on 14 March<\/p>\n
SpaceX<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n
SpaceX\u2019s third and most ambitious Starship test flight appeared to be at least a partial success today as it reached space, carried out fuel transfer tests and travelled further and faster than ever before. But the craft failed to make its scheduled landing and appears to have either self-destructed or burned up in Earth\u2019s atmosphere.<\/p>\n
After lift-off from SpaceX\u2019s site at Boca Chica, Texas, the first and second stages separated cleanly and the first stage \u2013 the booster that lifts it on the first part of its journey \u2013 began descending for a landing at sea. SpaceX ultimately intends to recover and re-use both stages, but in these early test flights they are both destined for a safer and easier ocean ditching.<\/p>\n
While the first stage steered itself on the descent it seemingly struggled to slow its fall as intended and appeared to hit the sea at speed.<\/p>\n
The second stage went on to reach an altitude of around 230 kilometres and successfully opened and closed its payload door as a test. It also shuffled fuel from one tank to another as an experimental first step towards the eventual refuelling of one Starship by another, which will be vital for long-range missions.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n But during re-entry the craft reached extremely high temperatures, with live video showing glowing plasma around its surface, and both video and telemetry data was lost.<\/p>\n \n