SpaceX 'Starship' Third Launch Attempt... "Test Flight Possibly on the 14th"

After Two Flight Failures, Intensive Investigation
"New Engine Technology and Flight Path Adjustments"

Starship, the lunar and Mars exploration spacecraft developed by SpaceX led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, is set to embark on its third test flight soon.

SpaceX announced on March 7 (local time) via the social networking service X (formerly Twitter) that "the third flight test of Starship is awaiting regulatory approval" and "it could be launched as early as March 14."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Previously, SpaceX attempted two Earth orbit test flights of Starship in April and November last year, both of which ended in failure. In the first attempt, Starship failed to separate from the lower Super Heavy rocket after liftoff and exploded in midair about four minutes later. In the second attempt, the lower rocket successfully separated, but communication was lost after eight minutes, leading to a self-destruct.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has conducted a rigorous investigation into SpaceX following the consecutive Starship explosions. To recover from this, SpaceX is believed to have applied several new attempts to increase the chances of success based on the experience gained from the two previous trials. The company stated that it plans to attempt the first-ever re-ignition of the Raptor engine in space and has set a new flight path aiming for a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

Starship is a spacecraft that SpaceX has been developing for years with the goal of transporting cargo and people to the Moon and Mars. It is 50 meters long and 9 meters in diameter, designed to carry up to 150 tons inside. When combined with the Super Heavy, the largest rocket ever launched, the total launch vehicle length reaches 121 meters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.