Starship is ready for launch near Boca Chica, Texas
UPI/Alamy Stock Photo
SpaceX is preparing for the second launch of its Starship rocket, and hopes to succeed after the first test in April resulted in an explosion after 5 minutes of flight. The rocket is crucial to CEO Elon Musk’s plans for moon missions and Mars colonization, but there are concerns following the aftermath of the first launch, which left a large area covered in dust and debris.
What time is Starship launching?
The launch is scheduled to take place within a 20-minute window starting at 8am EST (1pm GMT) on 18 November. A livestream of the launch will begin half an hour earlier, at 7.30am EST (12.30 GMT). The initial launch date of 17 November was postponed to allow for the replacement of a part, according to Musk.
The launch site is SpaceX’s Starbase spaceport near Boca Chica, Texas, and nearby residents have been advised to expect a loud noise during liftoff.
Where is Starship going?
If all preflight checks are successful, Starship will follow a flight plan similar to the first launch – flying for 90 minutes after liftoff before making a controlled descent and splashing down off the coast of Hawaii.
If the tests are successful, SpaceX intends to use Starship to transport astronauts to the moon and, eventually, Mars. The 120-metre-tall rocket is designed to be fully reusable and capable of carrying up to 100 passengers.
What happened when Starship launched before?
During the first launch in April, Starship caught fire after reaching a height of approximately 40 kilometers, leading to a decision to trigger the rocket’s self-destruction to prevent an uncontrolled descent. SpaceX later attributed the failure to propellant leakage into the booster rocket, which disrupted the flight computer.
Following the initial launch, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified 63 corrective actions for SpaceX to address before a second launch, including preventing leaks and fires, redesigning the launch pad for increased robustness, and incorporating additional reviews in the design process. SpaceX claims to have rectified these issues, with the FAA granting approval for the upcoming launch.
What happens if this launch goes wrong?
While rocket tests often result in explosions, Musk has expressed a 60 per cent chance of a successful orbital launch. SpaceX regards these failures as an essential part of its design process. The previous explosion drew criticism from environmental groups, as it resulted in significant environmental impact, contrary to the FAA’s initial assessment.
SpaceX has reinforced the launch pad and implemented a “water-cooled flame deflector” to mitigate the risk of a similar incident. However, there is no guarantee of success. If another failure occurs, it is likely that the FAA will conduct another investigation and withhold approval for a third launch until SpaceX can demonstrate that such issues have been addressed.
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