Tencent Technology News April 21 news, on Thursday, local time in the United States, SpaceX tried to send its Starship system into space, but due to engine failure, the rocket exploded three minutes after liftoff. However, the company's CEO, Elon Musk, said via internal email that the test was a "major success" and that Starcraft "has a good chance of going into orbit this year."
The accident could complicate Musk's goal of sending humans back to the moon to deep space destinations such as Mars. Thursday's test is crucial for the "largest" rocket system in history (Super Heavy Rocket Booster + Starship), which SpaceX aims to prove capable of going into space and partially orbiting the Earth.
At the same time, the accident also attracted the attention of the Federal Aviation Administration, which said it would investigate the flaws in the launch.
Starship took off from SpaceX's plant in Boca Chica, Texas, in the early hours of Thursday morning, but exploded just three minutes after liftoff. The company explained that it was due to the failure of Starship and Super Heavy Booster to separate successfully. In addition, several of the 33 engines on the booster failed.
In a statement posted on its website, SpaceX said: "During this flight test, the booster suffered multiple engine stall failures, failed to reach the intended altitude, and began to roll. The Flight Termination System is controlled by both the booster and the Starship. ”
Shortly after the explosion, Musk tweeted that the next test launch would take place "in a few months."
In an internal email, the CEO congratulated employees and said he was optimistic about the program's progress.
Musk wrote: "I think there is a good chance that Starship will go into orbit this year to recover boosters and spacecraft. If it doesn't work this year, it will definitely succeed next year. Mars, we're coming!"
Starship is conceived to send humans, including NASA astronauts, as well as cargo such as satellites into Earth orbit or beyond. The system is more powerful than any previous manned spacecraft and taller than Saturn 5, which once sent humans to the moon. It's designed to be fully reusable, which SpaceX says will help reduce costs.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which manages commercial space launches, said Thursday afternoon that the agency will oversee SpaceX's investigation into rocket failures.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in an emailed statement: "Starship and Hyperheavy rocket launches are subject to Federal Aviation Administration regulations that no system, process or procedure can endanger public safety. ”
SpaceX said the test could provide valuable information despite the explosion and that its launch alone could be considered a success. Earlier this week, Musk also tried to lower expectations.
In an audio discussion on Twitter on April 16, Musk said: "This is just my assumption: Before the problem occurs, as long as the rocket is far enough from the launch pad, then I think this is a success." Just don't blow up the launch pad. ”
Thursday's launch came after several attempts to postpone it. SpaceX had originally planned to launch the unmanned test mission on April 17, but canceled the launch about 10 minutes before scheduled takeoff due to a frozen pressure valve on the rocket. (Golden Deer)