In a significant milestone for space exploration, SpaceX’s massive prototype rocket, Starship, achieved its first-ever ocean splashdown during its fourth flight test on Thursday. This achievement marks a pivotal step forward in the development of the spacecraft that may one day carry humans to Mars.
The two-stage spacecraft, consisting of the Starship cruise vessel mounted atop the towering Super Heavy rocket booster, had previously broken apart during reentry attempts. This time, despite sustaining damage to several heat shield tiles and a flap, Starship managed to complete a soft landing in the ocean. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk celebrated the success, stating, “Despite loss of many tiles and a damaged flap, Starship made it all the way to a soft landing in the ocean!”
Standing nearly 122 meters tall, Starship is designed to be more powerful and cost-effective than SpaceX’s current workhorse, the Falcon 9 rocket. The successful splashdown brings NASA one step closer to utilizing Starship for upcoming missions, including landing astronauts on the moon for the first time since 1972.
The rapid advancement of SpaceX’s Starship program is closely watched in the global space community, particularly in light of emerging competition. China plans to send its astronauts to the moon by 2030 and has made significant strides in its lunar exploration efforts. Notably, China’s Chang’e-6 mission achieved a second landing on the moon’s far side, successfully retrieving lunar samples.
While Starship’s development is progressing swiftly compared to traditional rocket programs, it has faced delays relative to Musk’s ambitious timelines. Recently, a Japanese billionaire who had initially booked a flight around the moon aboard Starship canceled his plans due to schedule uncertainties.
The pursuit of rapid innovation has not been without challenges. Reports indicate that the accelerated pace of building and testing Starship has raised safety concerns among SpaceX workers in Texas and California.
As the race to return humans to the moon intensifies, the advancements made by SpaceX and China’s space program signify a new era of exploration. These developments hold significant implications for international collaboration and competition in space.
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SpaceX's Starship megarocket achieves first ocean splashdown
cgtn.com
