Largest Rocket Ever Explodes After Third Launch Attempt

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SpaceX, the aerospace company, launched the largest rocket ever on Thursday afternoon. Although the launch was successful, the unmanned spacecraft exploded upon re-entry into the atmosphere. However, SpaceX does not consider this to be a failure.

Unplanned Explosion, Planned Outcome

The connection with the Starship rocket was lost at an altitude of 65 kilometers, approximately 45 minutes after the launch. This was the first time the spacecraft practiced returning to earth. The rocket was exposed to temperatures of over 1,400 degrees during this process.

The original plan was for the rocket to perish. The spacecraft was expected to crash into the Indian Ocean at a speed of 320 kilometers per hour. Since the rocket did not need to land safely and wasn’t going to be recovered, SpaceX does not consider the flight a failure. Furthermore, the rocket lasted longer than in previous launch attempts. The spacecraft managed to reach an altitude of over 200 kilometers above the earth and a speed of over 26,000 kilometers per hour.

Unmanned Test Flight

The Starship rocket was sent unmanned into space from Texas for a test flight. The rocket is still under development, with the goal of being able to take astronauts to the moon and bring them back.

The spacecraft had its first test flight in April of the previous year. A few minutes after takeoff, the rocket exploded and the power of the launch itself destroyed the launch platform. The second flight, which took place last November, began more successfully with the rocket reaching space. However, the connection was lost a few minutes after the launch, and the spacecraft self-destructed to prevent accidents.

The Starship Rocket

The Starship rocket, consisting of two parts, stands at 120 meters tall. This height is 8 meters taller than the Utrecht Cathedral and 10 meters taller than the Apollo rockets, which took astronauts to the moon and back in the ’60s and ’70s.