The most powerful rocket ever designed and built was successfully lifted off from the orbital launch pad for the first time at about 8:33am CT on the 20th April 2023. After it cleared the pad and climbed to about 39 km over the Gulf of Mexico the vehicle experienced multiple engine failures, loss of altitude and began to tumble. As a standard procedure, the flight termination system was activated on both booster and ship.
The high altitude of about 39 km attained by the starship rocket was the highest any starship had reached. Although expectations were high, the test experience is largely regarded as a success because for every invention, failed tests often precede improved versions of every invention. It is believed that the test provided a lot of clues that will make a future launch more successful.
“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and we learned a tremendous amount about the vehicle and ground systems today that will help us improve on future flight of starship”
SpaceX
Spacex starship rocket is a spacecraft and super heavy rocket intended to be a fully re-usable transportation system that is designed to carry astronauts and even cargo to the earth’s orbit, the moon, mars and beyond. It is 120 meters in height, 9 meters in diameter, with a payload capacity of 100 – 150 t.
According to Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, the outcome of the first launch was expected. The company intends to invest over $2 billion this year alone to perfect the starship project.
FAA sued over spacex rocket launch
In a follow-up development, environmental and cultural-heritage non-profits have sued the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alleging that FAA violated the National Environmental Policy Act when it granted permission for spacex to launch its starship on 20th April 2023. Although the launch resulted in the release of particulate materials, debris and fires, the CEO of spacex believes that there was no meaningful damage to the environment as a result of the failed launch.
The exact impact of the launch on the habitat and its inhabitants is still being investigated by the Federal and State Agencies, as well as environmental experts.
ASVEK Science & Tech 