SpaceX Starship Explodes Minutes After Liftoff on Second Test Flight

SpaceX’s Starship Encounters Second Test Flight Setback

In a disappointing turn of events, SpaceX’s Starship experienced a malfunction during its second attempt at a near-orbital test flight. Approximately 10 minutes into the mission, the automated flight termination system was triggered, resulting in a loss of contact with the spacecraft. This incident marks another setback for the company, following a similar outcome during the initial test flight in April.

Planned Flight Path and Objectives

Had the test flight proceeded as intended, Starship would have embarked on a 90-minute journey, reaching an altitude of roughly 146 miles before splashing down off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, at around 8:30 central time. The primary goal of this near-orbital trip was to assess the spacecraft’s performance and gather crucial data for future missions.

Regulatory Hurdles and Environmental Concerns

Prior to the test flight, SpaceX had to navigate a complex regulatory landscape. The company implemented various upgrades to the rocket, including a hot-stage separation system and an electronic thrust vector control system for the Super Heavy’s engines. Additionally, the launch infrastructure at the Boca Chica site underwent improvements, such as reinforcements to the pad foundation and the installation of a water-cooled steel flame deflector.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a review of the local environmental impact of the upgraded launch site, which is situated adjacent to a wildlife refuge and public beach. The area is home to several threatened and endangered species, including the Gulf Coast jaguarundi, ocelot, five species of sea turtles, and various bird species like the piping plover, red knot, and Northern aplomado falcon.

Environmental concerns were further heightened when tests revealed elevated levels of chromium, zinc, aluminum, and iron in the water following a launch. Although subsequent tests showed lower concentrations, environmentalists like David Newstead from the Texas’s Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program remain apprehensive about the potential impact on the neighboring wildlife refuge.

That deluge water goes gushing out into the neighboring wildlife refuge, and I wouldn’t want it happening next door to me,

said Newstead, expressing his concerns.

Legal Challenges and Future Plans

On May 1, local and environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), challenging the agency’s approval of SpaceX’s Starship launches from Boca Chica. The plaintiffs argue that the FAA failed to adequately assess the environmental impact of the launches and neglected to consider alternative locations.

Despite the setbacks and legal challenges, SpaceX remains committed to its ambitious plans for Starship. The spacecraft is slated to play a crucial role in NASA’s Artemis program, with SpaceX contracted to provide a lunar lander for missions in 2026 and 2028. Additionally, the company has scheduled crewed spaceflights with private passengers aboard Starship for later this decade, including the “dearMoon” mission funded by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa.

Jared Isaacman, who funded and commanded the “Inspiration4” mission, SpaceX’s first all-civilian Crew Dragon flight, is also set to lead the first Polaris flight aboard a SpaceX Dragon early next year. This mission will involve up to five days in Earth orbit and the first commercial spacewalk.

As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the company must navigate the complexities of regulatory requirements, environmental concerns, and technological challenges to ensure the success of its future endeavors.