Live updates: SpaceX Starship lifts off, aiming to make history in Flight 15
SpaceX successfully completed Flight 15 of its Starship vehicle, reaching orbit despite a minor engine issue on the Super Heavy booster. The mission highlights the company's evolving risk-assessment strategy regarding software tolerances and engine performance.
Why it matters
As SpaceX pushes toward regular orbital operations, its ability to manage technical failures in real-time is critical for the future of space exploration and satellite deployment.
Link Copied! Here's why a Starship engine failed on the last mission By Jackie Wattles SpaceX Starship's raptor engines are seend during the test launch on September 28. SpaceX/UPI/Shutterstock The Starship spacecraft made it all the way to orbit insertion today without any major issues.
It was a stark departure from Flight 14 in September. SpaceX pushed forward with that mission, giving the green light for the vehicle to reach orbit even with one rocket engine on the spacecraft malfunctioning.
Starship didn’t need that engine for any future burns — but it was a surprising decision given how conservative the company’s criteria had been.
When you get your smart people in a room using all the information ahead of them to make educated risk calls where it’s go for broke, those calls are kind of the defining moments for the company.
Jeremy Pedro, SpaceX’s director of Starship propulsion systems
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