SpaceX launched the seventh test flight of its Starship rocket but lost communication with the upper stage of the rocket about nine minutes into the launch, indicating that the rocket likely broke apart. The Super Heavy booster successfully returned to land, but the Starship, carrying 10 “Starlink simulators” in its payload bay, did not reach space. The simulators are expected to follow a similar trajectory to the rocket and burn up during reentry. Starship is essential to SpaceX’s plans, and the second-generation version, Ship 33, featured significant upgrades. The rocket system, powered by liquid oxygen and liquid methane, aims to be fully reusable and revolutionize cargo and crew transportation beyond Earth. SpaceX aims to use Starship for NASA’s Artemis moon program, where it won a multibillion-dollar contract to serve as a crewed lunar lander. Overall, Starship is the tallest and most powerful rocket ever launched, with plans to deploy larger and heavier Starlink satellites in the future. The rocket system has shown steady progress in its development, with increasing capabilities and successful landings. Despite the recent setback, Starship remains a critical component of SpaceX’s future plans for space exploration.
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SpaceX launches Starship rocket on a mission to test satellite deployment techniques
