SpaceX rocket reaches orbit for first time after engine scare
SpaceX successfully launched its Starship rocket into orbit for the first time, though an engine issue forced an early return to Earth. The mission also deployed 26 Starlink satellites, marking a significant milestone for the company's reusable rocket program.
Why it matters
Advancements in fully reusable rocket technology are critical for reducing the cost of space travel and expanding satellite deployment capabilities.
- 9.57pm . First published at 9.43pm
shares Share article Elon Musk’s SpaceX is celebrating a win this morning after SpaceX’s Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful ever built, entered orbit for the first time - but not everything went according to plan.
One of the engines on the Super Heavy booster shut down during the initial ascent from Starbase in Texas , but the remaining five engines compensated for it by burning longer, SpaceX confirmed in a report.
SpaceX’s Starship rocket reaches orbit for the first time. SpaceX
Nonetheless, the engine issue triggered an early return to Earth “out of an abundance of caution”, with Starship landing in a prearranged cleared landing zone in the Pacific Ocean instead of completing six orbits of the planet.
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