Status: 18.11.2023, 06:36 a.m.
By: Tanja Banner
CommentsPrint Share
SpaceX's "Starship" rocket is about to launch for the second time. With numerous improvements, the test flight should be a success this time.
Boca Chica – More than half a year has passed since the maiden flight of SpaceX's Starship rocket. The first launch attempt ended in an explosion – the second time, SpaceX wants to do better. The second test flight is scheduled for November 18 between 14 and 16 p.m. CET, Elon Musk's company has received all the necessary licenses from the FAA in time.
Since the first launch, SpaceX has been very busy: Not only did the completely destroyed launch site need to be repaired and better equipped. Work was also carried out on the so-called "staging", the separation of the two rocket stages during flight. From the second test flight, the upper stage of the rocket is supposed to ignite its engines even before separating from the lower stage in order to prevent a loss of speed. This "hot staging" should also enable larger payloads in the future.
SpaceX's "Starship" exploded during the first test flight
But before SpaceX can think about payloads for the "Starship", the rocket must launch without any problems. This was successful during the first test flight, but difficulties arose shortly after take-off. Up to six of the 33 "Raptor" engines of the first rocket stage failed, most of the other engines were no longer controllable. Because of this, the rocket got out of control and had to be detonated by the self-destruct system. But even here there were problems, because the system did not trigger until 40 seconds after ignition.
SpaceX's "Starship" is the largest rocket in the world. It is still being tested. (Archive image) © IMAGO/SPACEX
Second test flight of the world's largest rocket to take off today
During the second test flight, everything should now go smoothly. The plan is for the second stage of the "Starship", a spacecraft also called a "Starship", to orbit the Earth almost once and land in the water near the Hawaiian island of Kauai about an hour and a half after liftoff. The first stage of the rocket, the so-called booster, is scheduled to fall into the Gulf of Mexico just a few minutes after launch. In the future, it is envisaged that both the booster and the spacecraft itself can be reused.
| Name: | Starship by SpaceX |
|---|---|
| 1st stage: | Booster (Super Heavy) |
| 2st stage: | Starship |
| Overall depth: | 121 meters |
| Payload: | more than 100 tons (after refueling in Earth orbit) |
| Goals: | e.g. Moon, Mars |
| Source: SpaceX |
Nasa wants to take people to the moon with the "Starship", Elon Musk wants to go to Mars
The Starship spacecraft will carry humans in the future – initially to the moon on behalf of NASA, but later also to Mars. In addition, the "Starship" is intended to serve to launch more "Starlink" internet satellites from SpaceX into Earth orbit. But all this is still a long way off. First of all, the second test flight must be successful. SpaceX already promises "excitement guaranteed!" on the company's website for the launch. (tab)
0
Read also
0
Is a white dwarf hurtling towards our solar system? Researchers have new insights
READ
The Merkur.de app is new: News from Bavaria, Germany and the world
READ3
Could one of the 20 supervolcanoes really wipe out humanity?
READ
SpaceX postpones second test flight of the "Starship" – When the rocket is scheduled to launch
READ
Lost Tool Bag Orbits the Earth – Here's How to See It in the Sky
READ
Fancy a voyage of discovery?
My Area
Machine support was used for this article, written by the editors. The article was carefully reviewed by editor Tanja Banner before publication.