SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas: The latest edition of SpaceX’s Starship soared through the Texas skies Friday after the company’s initial launch attempt was called off over technical issues the evening prior.
The mammoth rocket blasted off into space at just after 5:30 p.m. local time (2230 GMT), kicking off the highly anticipated test flight that comes as Elon Musk’s space company prepares a buzzy initial public offering.
The Super Heavy booster separated from the upper stage as expected, but company spokesperson Dan Huot said on the livestream of the event that the booster failed to complete its so-called boost-back burn.
The booster fell swiftly back to Earth uncontrolled into Gulf waters. SpaceX wasn’t planning to recapture the booster anyway, but was still hoping for a precision return.
The vehicle was coasting through space but was not in exactly the correct orbit after one of its engines malfunctioned. It had burned its remaining five engines slightly longer to compensate.
