In a major upset, Elon Musk has lost his claim to the most powerful space-worthy rocket title as NASA successfully launched its mega rocket to the moon in 2022. However, the SpaceX founder is gearing up to potentially reclaim the title with his company’s next big project: Starship. Despite facing setbacks during its first two tests in April and November of last year — both resulting in explosions shortly after liftoff — SpaceX remains optimistic about Starship’s future.
UPDATE: Mar. 8, 2024, 12:04 p.m. EST SpaceX is now eyeing a launch for its third Starship test flight as early as March 14. The upcoming test flight will be crucial, as the colossal booster must successfully separate about three minutes after liftoff and then splash down in the Gulf of Mexico. The rocket will then fly in space around Earth before landing in the Indian Ocean, with the entire journey expected to last just over an hour. This demonstration is essential for NASA’s plans to return humans to the moon in the coming years and could bring Musk one step closer to his dream of building a city on Mars.
Starship is a super-heavy-lift rocket and spacecraft designed to carry massive cargo and numerous astronauts into deep space. Standing at 400 feet tall, the stainless steel tower dwarfs NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. With approximately twice the thrust of NASA’s rocket, Starship is powered by 10 million pounds of liquid methane and oxygen, making it more cost-effective and less prone to leaks.
NASA has selected SpaceX to develop a human landing system version of Starship with a $4 billion contract, with plans to use the spacecraft to land astronauts on the moon during upcoming Artemis missions. However, delays in Starship’s progress have pushed back the timeline for Artemis III to 2026 at the earliest.
SpaceX’s next launch for Starship is scheduled for March 14, pending license approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. The company plans to conduct a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean, along with a preliminary test of fuel transfer within the spacecraft.
Despite facing challenges and setbacks in its first two test flights, SpaceX remains determined to overcome obstacles and achieve success with Starship. The company’s confidence in the spacecraft’s capabilities and potential for future space exploration remains unwavering.