In its pursuit of progress, SpaceX embarked on the third test flight of its Starship rocket, hoping for a breakthrough. Fortunately, this endeavor proved fruitful, with the Starship soaring into the sky at 9:25 AM ET, marking a significant milestone. Following liftoff, the craft smoothly executed the hot-staging separation from the Super Heavy Booster, seamlessly transitioning to the next phase. The ignition of the second-stage Raptor engines proceeded without incident, propelling the Starship into a coasting phase, with plans for a re-ignition approximately 40 minutes post-takeoff. However, the Super Heavy Booster experienced a partial descent, encountering challenges with engine reignition before splashdown. Detailed insights into the successes and setbacks of this phase will emerge once the mission concludes.
Prior attempts faced setbacks, yet the second launch managed to breach the confines of Earth's atmosphere. With a launch window spanning 110 minutes starting at 8 AM ET, the stage was set for another endeavor. A livestream covering the event commenced at approximately 8:50 AM ET, providing spectators with real-time updates on the unfolding mission.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Authority granted authorization for the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Orbital Flight Test 3. Confirming SpaceX's compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards, the FAA's statement to Engadget underscored the meticulous preparation preceding the launch.
The FAA's stringent measures followed a grounding of the Starship after the second test flight, prompting SpaceX to undertake 63 corrective actions. The initial launch resulted in a fire in a state park, prompting legal action from environmental groups.
Beyond building upon previous achievements, SpaceX harbored ambitious goals for this mission. Among these objectives were the inaugural re-lighting of a Raptor engine in space, flawless execution of ascent burns for both stages, payload door operation, and a controlled reentry. With a trajectory set for the Indian Ocean, the updated flight path facilitated experimentation with engine burns in space while upholding paramount safety standards. xor xor xor xor xor xor xor xor
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