Issue with Musk's Starship test launch - Criticism escalates over Musk's starship test flight
SpaceX Experiences Setback in Ninth Starship Test Flight
After reaching space for the first time in a test flight, SpaceX's Starship experienced an unfortunate failure during its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on May 27-28, 2025. The upper stage disintegrated over the Indian Ocean, marking another hurdle in SpaceX's ambitious space travel project.
The flight, which took place in South Texas, showcased several significant advancements, including the successful reuse of a flight-proven Super Heavy booster and 29 of its engines. However, these positive developments were overshadowed by the unexpected disassembly of the upper stage. SpaceX attributed the failure to a hardware malfunction in one of the engines, which caused fuel to ignite improperly.
Although astronauts were not on board during this test flight, SpaceX continues to prioritize safety, ensuring that all tests are conducted with cleared air and sea space. The company plans to learn from each setback and has indicated that it expects such issues as part of the development process for groundbreaking, complex technology.
The failed test does not deter SpaceX's ambition of achieving full reusability for its Starship system, capable of launching, landing, and flying again with minimal maintenance. The American space agency NASA has expressed interest in using Starship to send astronauts to the moon, while SpaceX dreams of reaching Mars one day.
Despite the latest setback, SpaceX remains committed to pushing the boundaries of space travel and plans to carry out more tests, with potential failures as stepping stones towards success. The company anticipates conducting tests approximately every three to four weeks.
SpaceX's Starship rocket system, which consists of two parts—the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage—is larger than the Statue of Liberty. Both parts are designed for reuse after their return to Earth.
[1] https://www.space.com/starship-test-flight-may-2025-lands-successfully.html[2] https://www.cnet.com/tech/space/spacex-starship-sn8-crashes-after-re-entry-attempt-teams-to-review-data/[3] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2021/04/01/spacex-elon-musk-super-heavy-rocket-will-at-least-120-metres/
- Scientists and engineers at SpaceX, as they work to enhance the Starship's reusability for Mars missions and lunar expeditions with NASA, may find insights from the latest ionizing radiation-related risks in the field of space-and-astronomy and technology.
- The Commission, given its recent task to propose a directive on the protection of workers from the risks associated with ionizing radiation, could potentially investigate cases such as the hardware malfunction experienced during the Starship test flight to contribute to improved safety measures in space travel technology.
