Starship launch as it happened: SpaceX aborts ‘chopstick’ catch of world’s biggest rocket
Watch a live stream of today’s SpaceX launch in Texas at the top of the blog below
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Your support makes all the difference.SpaceX aborted an attempt to catch its Starship rocket on Tuesday in a blow to Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions.
The sixth Starship flight test saw SpaceX once again attempt to catch the rocket’s Super Heavy booster using “chopstick” arms at the launch tower at the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
Measuring 120-metres-tall, Starship is the biggest rocket ever built, capable of carrying up to 100 people. SpaceX hopes to use it to ferry crew and cargo across the solar system, aiming to establish a permanent human colony on Mars by 2050.
Tuesday’s launch was uncrewed, with the failed catch of the booster followed by a successful splashdown of the upper stage Starship rocket in the Indian Ocean. Other objectives for the mission were also completed, including a first in-space burn using a single Raptor engine.
The 30-minute launch window opened at 4pm local time (10pm GMT), with a live stream broadcast beginning 40 minutes before lift-off.
Watch Starship launch live stream
A live stream of today’s launch has been provided by SpaceX. You can watch it here:
Propellant load of the Super Heavy booster is underway. Live coverage of Starship’s sixth flight test starts in ~5 minutes → https://t.co/vqCwQ7HvZl
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 19, 2024
Starship on fire
Starship now appears to be on fire as it bobs on the surface of the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX had already said that it did not expect to recover the rocket, so it won’t be too concerned by a few flames after such a smooth splash down.
BREAKING: Starship splashes down successfully
Starship has successfully completed its splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
This is how it looked coming in:
‘We’re looking good so far'
Starship has reentered Earth’s atmosphere and is now passing back through the clouds before attempting a splash down.
SpaceX warns of ‘whack-a-doodle stuff'
“Don’t be surprised if we see some whack-a-doodle stuff here,” SpaceX says over the live stream, warning viewers that it will be testing Starship to its limits during its reentry.
SpaceX prepares for Starship reentry
SpaceX is minutes away from attempting the Starship reentry. After that it will perform a flip manoeuvre before carrying out a soft splash down into the Indian Ocean.
If it’s anything like the previous attempts, it will be an impressive sight and a significant test of the craft’s heat shields.
Super Heavy booster rocket splashes down in Gulf of Mexico
After the aborted catch attempt at the launch tower, the Super Heavy booster instead ended up splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico.
The main Starship rocket is still on its way around the planet, set to attempt to splash down in the Indian Ocean in around 35 minutes.
‘No go for the catch'
SpaceX has said it will not be attempting to catch the Super Heavy booster with the launch tower chopsticks.
“The safety of the teams and the public and the pad itself are paramount, so we’re accepting no compromises in those areas,” SpaceX says.
I wonder if the presence of the next president of the United States in the vicinity had any influence on that decision.
Starship stage separation complete
The two stages of the Starship rocket have successfully separated - which has been a problem in the past.
The Super Heavy booster is now on its way back to Earth, while the main Starship rocket continues into space.
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