SpaceX’s latest Starship test launch ended in failure shortly after the spacecraft reached space on November 18, 2023. This was the second test flight of the Starship rocket, which is being developed to carry astronauts to the Moon and beyond.
The uncrewed Starship rocket lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas at 7:03 AM CST. The massive Super Heavy first stage boosted Starship to an altitude of over 40,000 feet before detaching as planned. However, shortly after separation, the automated flight termination system (AFTS) triggered and destroyed Starship over the Gulf of Mexico.
The AFTS is a standard safety system designed to destroy errant rockets to protect people and property below. According to SpaceX, the system was likely activated due to an issue with Starship’s engines or control systems.
Despite the loss of the vehicle, SpaceX declared the test flight a partial success. The Super Heavy booster performed flawlessly, and Starship reached a maximum altitude of around 480,000 feet before meeting its demise.
This was the second test flight of the 394-foot-tall, fully reusable Starship system. The first test in April 2022 also ended in an explosion minutes after liftoff.
SpaceX will now review flight data to determine the cause of the failure. Additional Starship tests are planned in the coming months as SpaceX works to develop the massive rocket.
Starship is the centerpiece of SpaceX’s ambitions for deep space exploration. The behemoth rocket is designed to carry over 100 metric tons to Earth orbit and is intended to launch cargo and crews to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
NASA plans to use Starship for upcoming Artemis missions that will return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.
