During the fifth test launch of the SpaceX Starship, the company managed to catch the first stage of the SpaceX Super Heavy rocket using the launch tower. On the first try! This is something incredible.
The launch is being streamed live on X/Twitter, but we suggest watching the stream from Alpha Centauri with Ukrainian commentary.
Some screenshots from the broadcast.
As a reminder, during the previous fourth text launch, the SpaceX Starship managed to gently bring the Super Heavy into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. During the controlled descent, the Starship used the dense layers of the atmosphere to brake, At an altitude of about 50 km, the ship began to lose its protective thermal tiles, and one of the front fins began to burn out. But Starship remained stable, cameras and rudders were working, telemetry was coming in, and the ship turned around and thrust.
This time, the “fin”, slightly modified after the last test, also began to burn out, but not as dramatically. The landing took place at night, so the picture was very dark. The Starship descended, turned on its engines, slowed down, and successfully landed. When the hot engines touched the water, an explosion occurred.
All stages of the test were recognized as successful.
Screenshots from the SpaceX Starship’s descent.
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