The SpaceX company conducted a successful test of the Starship spacecraft: it was possible not only to lift the ship, but also to land the first stage of the SpaceX Super Heavy launch vehicle.
The launch was broadcasted on the company's account in X.
The launch took place at the SpaceX launch complex in Boca Chica, Texas, USA. At an altitude of about 70 km, the first stage of the rocket separated and landed on the ground with the help of 33 engines. However, three engines had to be restarted to slow the fall.
The successful landing of the Super Heavy vehicle on the launch pad after the Starship launch is the biggest achievement in the program to build a reusable rocket that could send people to Mars or the Moon.
The Starship Flight 5 spacecraft itself landed in the Indian Ocean and exploded.
Falcon Heavy is vertical at pad 39A in Florida ahead of tomorrow’s launch of @NASA 's Europa Clipper → https://t.co/sXOX3pYMuW pic.twitter.com/XYXDu52jy2
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 13, 2024
Thousands of distinct vehicle and pad criteria had to be met prior to catching the Super Heavy booster. Thanks to the tireless work of SpaceX engineers, we succeeded with catch on our first attempt. pic.twitter.com/6wa5v6xHI0
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 13, 2024
Launching and returning the world's most powerful rocket pic.twitter.com/E8AWRc5TTZ
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 13, 2024
Views brought to you by @Starlink pic.twitter.com/34VK16OsoH
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 13, 2024
It will be recalled that SpaceX launched the Starship rocket for the first time in 2023. The first two tests were unsuccessful: the rocket exploded shortly after launch. Only for the third time did the Starship reach space, turn off and on the engines, reach the Indian Ocean and fell there. During the fourth flight, which took place in June 2024, SpaceX successfully returned both stages of the rocket to Earth for the first time.
On September 12 of this year, the private crew of the SpaceX spacecraft made a spacewalk as part of the Polaris Dawn mission. This was the first spacewalk for non-professional astronauts.
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