Starship reaches space for the first time in successful second test flight

SpaceX’s Starship rocket took flight from the Starbase launch site near Boca Chica, Texas on Saturday, and while the flight ended with a rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD), the flight was a success and marked a significant milestone for the project. The two-stage rocket, designed for interplanetary travel and to carry astronauts to the moon and beyond, reached space for the first time.

The key highlight of this test was the utilization of a rare and risky technique called “hot staging.” Unlike traditional rocket separations, hot staging involves the upper stage (Starship) firing its engines while still connected to the booster (Super Heavy). This strategy aims to provide an extra boost, enhancing payload capacity by 10%. However, it comes with a high level of risk, as the engine fire from Starship could potentially damage the booster, leading to a catastrophic failure.

Today’s flight test will feature a new stage separation method on Starship called hot-staging pic.twitter.com/jOoGEFUySr

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023

During the flight, the stages successfully separated, a critical achievement for reaching space and realizing Elon Musk’s vision of colonizing Mars. The hot staging maneuver, visible from the ground, appeared to be a success, with Super Heavy tumbling downward and Starship climbing away. However, the booster exploded moments later, a known challenge that SpaceX is working to address for future reusable launches.

Starship’s hot-stage separation was the first time this technique has been done successfully with a vehicle of this size pic.twitter.com/nlfhcPo8m7

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 19, 2023

Despite the setback with the Super Heavy booster, Starship continued its journey, getting up to speeds of 15,000 mph (24,140km/h). Unfortunately, SpaceX lost telemetry from the rocket just before the planned cutoff of the six Starship engines, but not before it reached space for the first time, climbing as high as 92 miles (148km) above the Earth’s surface. The broadcast cut off, leaving viewers in suspense about the fate of the upper stage. SpaceX emphasized the learning aspect of such tests, acknowledging that success comes from understanding and improving. The company aims to enhance Starship’s reliability as it pursues the ambitious goal of making life multiplanetary.

This second attempt builds upon lessons learned from the April test, where the rocket faced several challenges, including fuel leaks and engine failures. SpaceX’s rapid iteration approach allowed engineers to address these issues, introducing improvements to the launch pad, modifying the stage separation method, and enhancing engine reliability.

You can watch the full flight below.