SpaceX launched its ninth Starship Megarocket on May 27, marking the first significant reuse of Starship hardware. The two stages separated as planned, with the upper stage reaching space, though both stages were lost before the mission’s objectives were met. CEO Elon Musk highlighted improved engine performance during this flight but noted issues like tank pressure loss due to a leak.
The mission, which took off from Starbase in Texas, also served as a test for the Super Heavy booster, which returned to Earth after conducting various experiments. Although the booster ultimately failed to land successfully, the flight represented new milestones, including significant steps toward hardware reuse.
The upper stage aimed to deploy dummy Starlink satellites but failed to do so due to a malfunction in a cargo door. Consequently, it lost control and was presumed to have disintegrated in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX plans to learn from the data collected during this flight and aims to conduct further launches every three to four weeks.
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