BREAKING: SpaceX Starship performs first test launch of experimental mega-rocket, ‘next test launch in a few months’ says Elon
“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn,” SpaceX tweeted following the launch.
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“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn,” SpaceX tweeted following the launch.
On Thursday, SpaceX's Starship rocket performed its first successful launch, taking off from the company's private spaceport near Boca Chica, Texas.
While the spacecraft did eventually explode, the launch was deemed a success by everyone involved.
"With a test like this, success comes from what we learn," SpaceX tweeted following the launch, "and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multi-planetary."
CEO Elon Musk congratulated the team for the "exciting" accomplishment, noting that everyone had "learned a lot for the next test launch in a few months."
According to SpaceX, their Starship is the "largest, most capable rocket ever developed," and will hopefully help build a future where "humanity is out exploring stars."
In footage of the launch, viewers and those in the control center can be heard cheering with delight as Starship successfully lifted off from the launchpad, and rocketed into the sky.
Starship reached a maximum speed of 2157 km/h and attained an altitude of 39 km before falling back to Earth. The rocket failed to separate from its super heavy booster, and eventually exploded mid-air.
https://twitter.com/thePrimalSpace/status/1649051677377560578
"Everything after clearing the tower was icing on the cake," the play-by-play announcer stated, and as things finally came to an end, a round of applause broke out in the SpaceX control center.
https://twitter.com/SenBillNelson/status/1649054379029458949
The achievement was celebrated all over the United States and the world, with many offering their praise of SpaceX.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated the team, and pointed out that "Every great achievement throughout history has demanded some level of calculated risk, because with great risk comes great reward."
"Looking forward to all that SpaceX learns," he added. "To the next flight test—and beyond."
The launch was supposed to take place on Monday, just three days after SpaceX received government approval, but had to be delayed due to a frozen valve.
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