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SpaceX’s Starship Flight 6: A Major Development with the Super Heavy Booster
In a recent update, new footage on X revealed that SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy booster from Flight 6 did not sink as expected. Initially, SpaceX aimed to retrieve the booster using its launch tower but aborted the attempt at the last moment due to technical difficulties. Instead, the booster was seaworthy splashed down in the ocean, as explained by CEO Elon Musk, who cited issues with the launch tower as the reason for the last-minute change in plans. The footage shows the impressive 232-foot-tall Super Heavy gracefully floating on the ocean’s surface, with recovery teams approaching via ship.
Recovering the First Successful Splashdown: An Evolution in Starship Design
In a notable milestone, Elon Musk shared an image revealing that SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 booster was the company’s first successful recovery from a marine landing. This booster not only achieved a soft splashdown but also highlights the advancements SpaceX has made during the series of full stack tests. While the booster from Flight 3 attempted a similar landing, it suffered engine failures, leading to a controlled destruction above the ocean’s surface.
Recent imagery displayed the outer ring of engines on the Super Heavy intact, though the inner ring and body were missing. Significantly, Flight 5 marked the first instance where a Super Heavy booster was successfully recovered completely intact through a tower catch. This reflects SpaceX’s continuous innovations and improvements in its recovery techniques.
Flight 6: A Splashdown with Surprising Outcomes
During Flight 6, the company’s failure to retrieve the booster using the tower did not detract from the overall mission. The booster made a soft splashdown instead. Video footage from SpaceX’s live stream shows the rocket partially submerged and floating post-landing. Remarkably, it appears that the Super Heavy did not descend to the bottom of the Gulf of Texas as anticipated.
Analyzing Booster Buoyancy and Recovery Prospects
The visuals circulating on X showcase the Super Heavy booster buoyantly floating even amidst flames shortly after its ocean landing. This buoyancy is attributed to the rocket’s tanks being filled with inert, pressurized gas post-propellant use, maintaining structural integrity during descent. Without this precaution, internal tank collapse could lead to significant anomalies. The current status of the booster remains uncertain; it’s unclear whether SpaceX has successfully recovered the rocket or if it has settled on the ocean floor. Reports from local media suggest it drifted south towards Mexican waters, guarded by support aircraft following its splashdown.
Looking Ahead: SpaceX’s Future Starship Initiatives
In keeping with its ambitious plans, SpaceX has commenced shipping components from its Super Heavy boosters in preparation for subsequent Starship missions. Development momentum is evident as the company rolled out sections for another booster aimed at enhancing the Starship launch frequency from Texas, utilizing both launch towers effectively.
Imagine being a pirate and seeing this, my god pic.twitter.com/YSEHiQE1az
– Austin Barnard🚀 (@austinbarnard45) November 23, 2024
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