On December 9th, 2021, SpaceX launched its Starship SN20 prototype from its facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The launch was intended to test the spacecraft’s ability to reach orbit and return safely to Earth. However, just minutes after liftoff, the Starship suffered a mid-flight explosion, causing many to question the success of the mission.
Despite the explosion, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk declared the launch a success. In a tweet following the incident, Musk stated that “Fuel header tank pressure was low during landing burn, causing touchdown velocity to be high & RUD, but we got all the data we needed! Congrats SpaceX team hell yeah!!”
So, what exactly happened during the launch? According to SpaceX, the Starship successfully ascended to an altitude of approximately 10 kilometers before beginning its descent back to Earth. During the landing burn, which is intended to slow the spacecraft’s descent and allow for a safe touchdown, the Starship’s fuel header tank pressure dropped, causing the spacecraft to crash into the landing pad.
While the explosion may seem like a setback for SpaceX, it’s important to note that the company has always approached space exploration with a “fail fast” mentality. This means that they are willing to take risks and learn from their mistakes in order to improve their technology and ultimately achieve their goal of making space travel more accessible.
In fact, this is not the first time that a SpaceX prototype has suffered a mid-flight explosion. In May of 2021, the Starship SN15 prototype successfully completed a high-altitude flight test before exploding during its landing attempt. However, this failure did not deter SpaceX from continuing to improve their technology and move forward with their plans for space exploration.
Despite the setback, the Starship SN20 launch was still a significant achievement for SpaceX. The fact that the spacecraft was able to reach an altitude of 10 kilometers and perform a controlled descent back to Earth is a testament to the company’s innovative technology and skilled team of engineers.
Furthermore, the data collected from the launch will be invaluable in helping SpaceX improve their technology and prepare for future missions. As Musk stated in his tweet, “we got all the data we needed!” This data will allow SpaceX to identify and address any issues that may have contributed to the mid-flight explosion and make necessary improvements for future launches.
In conclusion, while the mid-flight explosion during the Starship SN20 launch may have been a setback for SpaceX, it does not diminish the significance of the company’s achievements in space exploration. The fact that they are willing to take risks and learn from their mistakes is a testament to their commitment to advancing technology and making space travel more accessible. With each launch, SpaceX is getting closer to achieving their goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species.
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