Rocket from Starship set for fourth test launch on Thursday
On Thursday, June 6, 2024, SpaceX's fourth Starship test flight took off, marking a significant milestone in the quest for reusable space travel. The 122-meter-tall rocket, designed to carry humans to Mars, successfully demonstrated the ability to recover and reuse both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage.
The Super Heavy booster aimed for a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, simulating a precision landing in preparation for future snagging by the launch tower. Despite losing one Raptor engine shortly after liftoff and sustaining severe forward flap damage, the Starship upper stage survived atmospheric reentry and made a controlled splashdown within the target area in the Indian Ocean, about 6 kilometers from the center.
This flight marked a key step in demonstrating the full reuse potential of the two-stage system. The booster landing on a "virtual tower" was an important precursor to the subsequent flight (fifth test) aiming for an actual catch by the launch tower.
Meanwhile, NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance were preparing for their own mission. The Starliner, a capsule designed for space travel, was scheduled to launch around 4:50 p.m. Paris time on the same day, sending NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station for a stay of about a week. The launch window opened at 7:00 a.m. local time (2:00 p.m. Paris time).
SpaceX broadcast the event live on X, starting 30 minutes before liftoff, allowing millions of viewers worldwide to witness the historic test flight. The successful recovery and controlled splashdown of both vehicle stages validated critical maneuvers required for Starship's reusability goals, bringing us one step closer to a future where space travel becomes more sustainable and accessible.
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- The Starship test flight by SpaceX, a significant event in science and space-and-astronomy, marked a significant leap towards reusable space travel, utilizing advanced technology in its design and recovery process.
- NASA, Boeing, and United Launch Alliance, also prominent in the field of science and technology, were preparing for their own mission, aiming to send astronauts to the International Space Station, showcasing their dedication to space exploration and human space travel.
