On Friday at 18:30 Central Time (7:30 AM Beijing Time on Saturday), the new heavy-lift rocket "Starship" of the American space exploration company SpaceX was launched from Texas, carrying out its tenth test flight.

The main objectives of this mission include deploying simulated satellites by the spacecraft and conducting engine re-ignition tests in space.

According to the plan, the rocket booster will fall into the Gulf of Mexico and will not return to the launch site.

According to live footage, during this test flight, "Starship" flew over half the globe in one hour and finally successfully splashed down in the Indian Ocean. The launch site was filled with cheers and applause.

Previously reported, "Starship" was originally scheduled for its tenth test flight around 7:30 AM Beijing Time on August 25, with test tasks including the first stage booster detachment and controlled splashdown, the second stage spacecraft entering space, and the spacecraft re-igniting its engines and deploying the simulated satellites it carried.

On the 21st, Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, posted a photo of a glowing spacecraft on social media, captioned, "Preparing to launch 'Starship.'"

On the night of the 24th, until the last moment before the test flight, SpaceX confirmed the cancellation, stating that due to "ground system issues," there were problems with the launch pad and related infrastructure. SpaceX did not provide specific details.

According to reports, "Starship" consists of two parts: the first is the 70-meter-long "Super Heavy" booster, and the second is the "Starship" spacecraft, both of which are reusable. Previously, SpaceX has successfully tested the "chopsticks" method for rocket recovery, which is unprecedented.

The significance of the "Starship" test flight lies in the fact that if successful, it could become a revolutionary force in the space field. Its design goal is to transport people and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, and even Mars. It had its first test flight in April 2023.

In March this year, Musk said that "Starship" would carry Tesla's humanoid robot "Optimus" to land on Mars by the end of 2026. If progress goes smoothly, a crewed Mars mission could be implemented as early as 2029, although it is more likely to happen in 2031.

Additionally, with NASA's plan to send astronauts back to the moon as early as mid-2027, "Starship" is also seen as crucial.

However, encountering problems during test flights is not uncommon. Weather, technical issues, and other factors can affect the outcome, especially considering it is a new generation of heavy-lift rockets.

It can be said that the tenth test flight took place at a critical moment for SpaceX's success or failure. Looking back at the first three test flights this year, "Starship" ended in the spacecraft disintegrating or the booster exploding.

In the seventh and eighth test flights in January and March, the first stage booster of the rocket successfully achieved the "chopsticks" recovery at the launch tower, but the second stage spacecraft rapidly disintegrated during ascent. At that time, the scene of "Starship" second stage spacecraft debris turning into a meteor shower was impressive.

In May, "Starship" was launched from Texas for the ninth test flight. However, the first stage booster exploded, and the second stage spacecraft lost control.

Sources: Comprehensive news from Every Day Economic News, CCTV News, Shangguan News, and public information.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7543071199874646591/

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