The Starship rocket, the most powerful ever built, has experienced a 'rapid unscheduled disassembly' on its first test flight. The rocket successfully cleared the launch tower and had reached an altitude of over 35km when the first stage booster failed to separate, sending the rocket into a spin. After a few moments the rocket then exploded.
In the build-up to launch, SpaceX had expressed limited ambition for this first test. Their main aim was to clear the launch tower, which was achieved after a very brief interruption during the final countdown. The excitement at SpaceX's Starbase was palpable, and even though the rocket did not complete its mission, there was a lot of celebration on the ground.
It is hoped that all the information gathered on this first flight will ensure that the next test of Starship is more successful.
Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built; twice as powerful as the Saturn V rocket used to take humans to the Moon in 1969, according to SpaceX. It is also fully reusable, making it far cheaper to operate, and allowing a quicker turnaround between missions.
The rocket needs to be powerful in order to transport large payloads of equipment for potential crewed missions to the Moon and Mars as part of NASA's Artemis programme. The success of Starship's future tests therefore represent an important step towards exploring other planets in the next few years.
All go for first launch attempt
SpaceX's Starship rocket stands on the launchpad at South Padre Island, Texas, USA, on 16 April 2023, the day before its first launch attempt. Photo by SpaceX/Flickr
Gathering crowds
Crowds gather at the launch site of SpaceX's Starship, at South Padre Island, Texas, USA, on 17 April 2023. Photo by SpaceX/Flickr
Last minute hitch
The Starship rocket stands on the launchpad from the SpaceX Starbase in Boca Chica as seen from South Padre Island, Texas, USA on 17 April 2023. Liftoff of the giant rocket was called off just minutes ahead of the scheduled launch time because of a pressurisation issue, SpaceX officials said. Photo by Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
Attempting to fix the problem
Workers prepare the SpaceX Starship as the sun sets behind them ahead of the launch from the SpaceX Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, USA, on 18 April 2023. The launch of the rocket was rescheduled for 20 April 2023, after a technical glitch forced a halt to the countdown. Photo by Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
Early morning start for second launch attempt
The SpaceX Starship, seen from South Padre Island, Texas, USA, sits on the launchpad in the early-morning mist, 20 April 2023. Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
Lift off
Starship is seen as the first stage ignites and the inaugural flight begins. Photo by SpaceXThe SpaceX Starship lifts off from the launchpad during a flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, USA, on 20 April 2023. The rocket successfully blasted off at 8:33 am Central Time (1333 GMT). Photo by Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
First stage looks good
The SpaceX Starship lifts off from the launchpad during a flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on 20 April 20, 2023. Photo by Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
A little under 3 minutes into the flight, the first and second stages of Starship fail to separate, causing the rocket to spin. Photo by SpaceX
Explosive end
After managing to stay airborne for nearly four minutes, Starship explodes, before falling back to Earth. Photo by SpaceX - Photo credit: SpaceX
Launch pad damaged
A member of the public walks through a debris field at the launch pad on 22 April 2023. The launch of the most powerful rocket ever constructed caused a substantial amount of damage to the area surrounding the launch pad, including craters from rock debris. Photo by Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
James Cutmore is the picture editor of BBC Science Focus Magazine. He has worked on the magazine and website for over a decade, telling compelling science stories through the use of striking imagery. He holds a degree in Fine Art, and has been nominated for the British Society of Magazine Editors Talent Awards, being highly commended in 2020. His main areas of interest include photography that highlights positive technology and the natural world. For many years he was a judge for the Wellcome Trust's image competition, as well as judging for the Royal Photographic Society.
TOPSHOT - The SpaceX Starship lifts off from the launchpad during a flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on April 20, 2023. - SpaceX's Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, lifted off on Thursday on the first test flight of the spacecraft designed to send astronauts to the Moon, Mars and beyond. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
