SpaceX, The world’s most powerful rocket starship flew in the sky for the fifth time. Meanwhile, this spacecraft has set a record. This is the first time a rocket has landed safely on a launch pad. Oops, the landing is wrong. The launchpad’s two robotic arms held the rocket safely in neutral. The starship’s hang-landing on Sunday, October 13, is being called a historic event.
Why is it historic? Because no rocket has ever hovered and landed like this before. Previously, booster rockets would separate the main spacecraft into space. These detached boosters usually landed in the ocean. Later, that part was brought back with the help of ships, although it was not used most of the time. But this time, it is not in the sea, the rocket is sitting directly in the hands of the launchpad’s robotic arm. After that, it slowly sits in a certain place on the launchpad. Meaning, the pad sits back in place just as the rocket does during launch. It is called a huge achievement for many reasons. (Why, I’ll come to that later.)
This rocket of SpaceX is said to be the most powerful rocket in history. The nearly 400-foot-long rocket consists of two parts. Super heavy boosters and starships. The starship is mounted on a super heavy booster. The Super Heavy Booster has sent the starship into space and returned to Earth.
SpaceX has long planned to reuse the launch system. It should be said that Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, is planning. This time, Musk and his organization have been completely successful in that goal. This is because the rocket was not damaged as a result of being held in a vacuum. It sits neatly in place. As a result, the cost has also been saved a lot. In the future, the cost of launching rockets can be greatly reduced in this way.
The booster separated from the rocket 2 minutes and 45 seconds after launch. And about 7 minutes after launch, the booster returned to the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, USA. On return the booster is decelerated to prevent detonation. Then the booster slowly approaches the 480 feet tall landing tower. The landing tower then grabs the booster with a mechanical arm. As if a fielder caught! SpaceX engineers think this day is worth writing down in history.
“It’s just crazy,” said Kate Tice, the company’s manager of quality systems engineering. We managed to successfully bring back the super booster in the first attempt. It is a historic day for mankind.
The reader may have already understood its importance. One is, through this, the cost of making a new booster is saved. Again, the cost of bringing the booster to the launch pad from there is also saved. Apart from that, starships were originally developed to help settle the Moon and Mars. And the problem of dropping boosters or making flat launchpads on moon or mars ocean or somewhere like that was forever freed by the goodness of this solution. Yes, this means that once such a launchpad and robotic arm are placed on a planet or satellite. After that, people’s worries about landing in those places will be reduced a lot.
This rocket can be quickly reused. Very strong too. In September 2026 (estimated), the Artemis 3 mission will land humans on the moon again. This Starship rocket will be used in that mission. Apart from this, Elon Musk also wants to go to Mars soon. It can be said that the organization is conducting these experiments keeping these goals in mind.
It was the starship’s fifth test. Earlier in April and November 2023 and March and June this year total 4 times the exam was conducted. However, this is the first time that the booster has attempted to take the loop in zero. SpaceX’s success is therefore encouraging.
Photo and text credit SpaceX and Reuters
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