SpaceX launches latest Starship test flight with upgraded system

SpaceX launched the latest test flight of Starship, featuring the upgraded Version 3 system powered by 33 Raptor 3 engines. The mission tested major design improvements as the company continues efforts to build a fully reusable launch system for future space missions.

By Srivanth Yadav

Hyderabad: SpaceX successfully launched the latest test flight of its Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket system ever built, on Friday, May 22.

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Designed to carry heavy payloads and support future deep-space exploration missions, Starship is the world’s largest rocket system developed so far. The launch vehicle consists of two major components: the Super Heavy booster, which provides the initial lift, and the Starship spacecraft mounted on top.

The latest mission marked the debut of the upgraded “Version 3” Starship system powered by 33 Raptor 3 engines. The rocket generated roughly 17 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, more than twice the power produced by the Saturn V rocket that carried astronauts during the Apollo Moon missions.

Standing over 400 feet (124 metres) tall, the massive rocket has been developed with the long-term objective of making space travel more affordable and routine. SpaceX aims to eventually use Starship to carry people and cargo to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

The rocket followed a high suborbital trajectory intended to evaluate real-world performance without entering a full orbit. It lifted off from Starbase in southern Texas and carried 20 mock Starlink satellites, which were released during the approximately one-hour mission.

During the mission, one of the spacecraft’s engines reportedly encountered technical issues. However, the spacecraft successfully completed its planned trajectory and reached its target splashdown location in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX stated that the fiery descent and impact were expected as part of the test profile.

Elon Musk described the mission as “epic”, while the company said the primary objective of the latest flight was to test major design improvements and validate them under actual flight conditions.

SpaceX has been working towards making Starship a fully reusable launch system as part of its broader ambitions involving lunar missions, commercial launches and future interplanetary travel.