SpaceX has given us another angle on the epic fifth test flight of its massive Starship rocket.
The company made history on the October 13 mission, catching the Starship’s first stage booster using the arms of the launch tower about seven minutes after liftoff.
But the spacecraft’s 165-foot (50-meter) upper stage, known as the spacecraft, or just the ship, also returned to Earth. It landed in a specific spot halfway around the world from its launch site in South Texas, a newly released video from SpaceX shows.
“The spacecraft flip maneuver and landing burn in the fifth flight test. Vehicle improvements ensured the flaps were protected from high heat, resulting in a controlled entry and high-precision landing in the target area in the Indian Ocean,” SpaceX wrote on Friday (October). 18). Share on X who shared a 21-second video.
This video was captured from the surface of the ocean, from a buoy or other swaying object, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk noted in a joking response to the company’s post.
“What a great video!” Musk Written on X Friday.
Related to: Spacecraft and Super Heavy explained
There may be no more ocean splashing in the ship’s future. SpaceX plans to bring the upper stage plus Super Heavy back for landing on the launch tower in the future — something that seems entirely achievable given the performance in Flight 5, according to Musk.
“The spacecraft made a smooth and precise landing in the ocean, clearing the way to return to the launch site and grab hold of the tower arms, like a booster. Complete and rapid reusability improves the cost of getting to orbit and beyond by more than 10,000%,” the billionaire businessman wrote in an article. Another: “It is the fundamental technological advance needed to make life multi-planetary and for us to become a true spacefaring civilization.” Share Friday X.
As this post points out, SpaceX is developing Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, to help humanity settle on the Moon and Mars. The company believes that the combination of power and complete and rapid reusability can help realize these long-cherished dreams.
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