SpaceX's Starship Blasts Off in Third Test Flight
All the Best Photos of the Powerful Rocket's Most Successful Flight Yet
On March 14, 2024, at 8:25 am CT, SpaceX's Starship launched on its third fully-integrated flight test from Starbase in Texas. The spacecraft is the vehicle selected to land US astronauts on the moon as soon as September 2026.
Starship Flew Faster and Longer Than Ever Before
Starship flew faster and longer than ever before on Thursday, but with both stages lost during the landing phase. The rocket's first stage, Super Heavy, successfully lifted the spacecraft to an altitude of about 150,000 feet before separating and returning to Earth for a controlled landing in the Gulf of Mexico.
The second stage, Starship, continued to climb to an altitude of about 300,000 feet before re-entering the atmosphere and attempting to land at SpaceX's landing site in South Texas. However, Starship lost control during the landing burn and crashed into the ground.
Despite the Landing Failure, the Flight Was a Success
Despite the landing failure, the flight was a success for SpaceX. The company was able to successfully test the Starship's new heat shield, which is designed to protect the spacecraft during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. SpaceX also tested the Starship's new engines, which are more powerful than the engines used on the company's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.
The Starship is still under development, but Thursday's flight was a major milestone for the program. The spacecraft is now one step closer to being ready for its first crewed flight, which is scheduled for later this year.
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