SpaceX notches major wins during 10th Starship test
SpaceX notches major wins during 10th Starship test, achieving long-awaited breakthroughs that could bring the company closer to future moon missions and large-scale satellite deployment. The successful flight offered a glimpse into the rocket’s evolving capabilities after a string of earlier setbacks.
Image Credits:SpaceX
A historic liftoff at Starbase
The 403-foot Starship lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas at 7:30 p.m. ET. Powered by 33 methane-fueled Raptor engines, the rocket soared into the skies before stage separation at around three minutes into flight.
This marked the 10th test of the system, and unlike earlier attempts that ended in failure, this flight demonstrated multiple mission-critical technologies.
Super Heavy booster’s precision test
On descent, the massive Super Heavy booster trialed a new maneuver—shutting down primary landing engines and switching to backup engines. The test worked as intended, helping engineers prepare for scenarios where engines might fail.
The 232-foot booster then nailed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, proving critical data can be collected safely even during high-risk experiments.
Starship upper stage hits new milestones
Meanwhile, the upper stage, Starship itself, achieved multiple “firsts.” For the first time, it successfully opened its payload bay doors and deployed eight Starlink mass-simulator satellites. This was a key milestone SpaceX had previously failed to demonstrate.
Engineers also reignited a Raptor engine in orbit before directing the vehicle toward the Indian Ocean. While the upper stage tipped over and exploded after splashdown, the test still offered valuable progress.
Thermal protection system put to the test
Starship endured extreme heat during reentry, allowing SpaceX to study its upgraded thermal-protection system. The team experimented with sections of removed heat shield tiles, a new metallic tile, and even an actively cooled tile.
Such real-world stress tests are vital for ensuring the rocket can one day survive repeated journeys to orbit and beyond.
Why this test matters
Perhaps the biggest win was maintaining uninterrupted communications with Starship throughout the mission. In its last flight, SpaceX lost attitude control mid-coast, which prevented payload door operations. This time, engineers overcame that hurdle—showing steady progress.
With SpaceX notching major wins during the 10th Starship test, the company has inched closer to proving Starship’s reliability. These milestones matter not only for deploying next-generation Starlink satellites but also for meeting NASA’s ambitious goal of using Starship to land astronauts on the moon by 2027.
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