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SpaceX launches and lands the most powerful rocket ever made
๐ Abstract
The article discusses the successful launch and landing of SpaceX's Starship, the most powerful and largest rocket ever made, in its fourth test flight.
๐ Q&A
[01] Starship Launch and Landing
1. What were the key details of the Starship launch and landing?
- SpaceX's Starship, the most powerful and largest rocket ever made, was launched from the company's Starbase home in Texas.
- The booster separated and splashed down in the ocean, while the spacecraft flew around the Earth and completed a landing burn as it fell towards the water.
- Despite losing many heat-shielding tiles and having a damaged flap, Starship was able to land safely in the ocean.
- This was a critical milestone in SpaceX's plan to eventually return the super-heavy booster to its launch site for reuse.
2. How did this launch and landing compare to previous Starship tests?
- Previous Starship tests had resulted in the spacecraft being destroyed at various stages of the mission.
- This was the fourth test flight for Starship, and the first time it had successfully landed in the ocean after completing a flight around the Earth.
3. What are Starship's intended future uses?
- NASA and Elon Musk hope that Starship will eventually be used to fly humans to the Moon and Mars.
- NASA has ordered a pair of Starships for two moon-landing missions by astronauts later this decade.
- SpaceX is also selling tourist trips around the moon, though the first private lunar customer has pulled out.
- Musk envisions fleets of Starships launching people and infrastructure to build a city on Mars.
[02] Regulatory Approval and Future Plans
1. What regulatory approval was required for this Starship test flight?
- The Federal Aviation Administration signed off on the fourth Starship demo, saying all safety requirements had been met.
2. What are SpaceX's plans for the next Starship test flight?
- SpaceX said it would be launching its next Starship test mission "soon".
Shared by Daniel Chen ยท
ยฉ 2024 NewMotor Inc.