NASA Chief Congratulates SpaceX on Starship Launch Test

What is Starship?

The Starship spacecraft, along with the Super Heavy rocket, is called Starship. It's a spaceship made by SpaceX to take people and things to space, the Moon, Mars, and further.

The Super Heavy rocket is the Starship launch system's first stage or booster. It is reusable and powered by many engines. It can come back to Earth and return to the launch site. The Starship spacecraft is the second stage of Starship. It will be used to carry people and things.

Starship will be able to take 100 people to other planets and carry big things like telescopes and satellites. Also, a base has to be developed on the Moon for future space explorations. Starship can deliver the materials needed to build it. Recently, the second-flight test of Starship was conducted.

Was the launch test successful?

On 18th November 2023, the flight test was conducted. The Starship spacecraft reached space for the first time but didn't last long. Both the booster and the spacecraft exploded before they could complete the mission.

The Super Heavy booster took flight and successfully separated from the Starship spacecraft. The booster then exploded as it fell back to Earth. It was supposed to land in the Gulf of Mexico. The Starship spacecraft looked like it might fly around Earth before splashing into the Pacific Ocean.

After a few minutes, the connection was lost, and the spacecraft also exploded. Even though the mission didn't work out, NASA chief Bill Nelson congratulated SpaceX.

Why did the NASA chief congratulate SpaceX?

Even though the Starship exploded in its second flight test, it did better than the first test in April 2023. All the engines of the Super Heavy rocket worked, and the booster separated from the Starship like it was supposed to.

In the second test, Starship flew longer and higher than before. These tests will help SpaceX make the spaceship better. You can read more about Starship and its first flight test in this article.