In November, the residents of Matamoros, Mexico, had the chance to witness the impressive second test flight of the SpaceX Starship mega rocket just across the border from Brownsville, Texas. This test flight marked a significant improvement from the first attempt that took place seven months earlier.
The initial launch in April last year outside Brownsville encountered various issues, such as damage to the launchpad, failed booster engines, and a unsuccessful separation of the upper stage. However, during the second test flight, all 33 booster engines operated successfully, and the upper Starship stage separated as planned. Both stages reached high speeds before ultimately exploding as part of the test.
SpaceX determined that a blockage in a filter was the cause of the booster failure and has since implemented design changes to prevent such issues in future flights. While the upper stage achieved hot-staging, a crucial milestone in its development, a fire ignited when extra liquid oxygen was released, leading to the destruction of the spacecraft.
Despite the setback, the upper Starship stage managed to reach an altitude of approximately 90 miles and a speed of 15,000 miles per hour. However, in order to successfully orbit, the Starship needed to reach a speed of 17,000 miles per hour.
The test flight may not have gone as planned, but it serves as a valuable learning experience for SpaceX as they continue to push the boundaries of space exploration with their Starship rocket.
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