In a remarkable display of collaborative innovation, SpaceX and NASA achieved significant milestones in their joint endeavor towards advancing space exploration. On March 14, 2024, SpaceX launched the third integrated flight test of its Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft from Starbase in Texas. Simultaneously, NASA, as part of its Artemis campaign, worked closely with SpaceX to develop the Starship human landing system (HLS) for upcoming Artemis missions.
The integrated flight test showcased remarkable achievements and firsts for both Starship and the Super Heavy booster:
- Starship, equipped with six Raptor engines, successfully executed its full-duration ascent burn, marking a pivotal moment in its development.
- Notably, all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster initiated and completed a full-duration burn during ascent, demonstrating exceptional performance.
- Starship achieved its first-ever entry from space, providing invaluable data on hypersonic reentry and vehicle control.
- Despite encountering a rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD) during the landing phase, the flight test yielded critical insights into the performance of both Starship and the Super Heavy booster.
NASA’s involvement in the flight test underscores its commitment to leveraging innovative technologies for future lunar exploration missions. As SpaceX and NASA continue to analyze the wealth of data gathered from the test, anticipation builds for future collaborative endeavors aimed at unlocking the mysteries of space and expanding humanity’s reach beyond Earth.
Starship’s Third Flight Test
Watch Starship's third flight test https://t.co/1u46r769Vp
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 5, 2024
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