Launch and Recovery
's seventh Starship test flight from , aimed to stress-test the spacecraft and avionics, deploy dummy satellites, and achieve a water landing. The Super Heavy booster was successfully caught by the launch tower's mechanical arms, marking a repeat of a challenging feat.
Despite the successful booster recovery, communication was lost with the Starship approximately 8.5 minutes into the flight, leading to the spacecraft's destruction. Preliminary indicators suggest an oxygen/fuel leak caused the breakdown.
Investigation and Future Plans
The has required a mishap investigation into the Starship's loss, pausing further flights until completion. SpaceX has already conducted a static test fire and made hardware changes in response to the incident.
Despite the setback, SpaceX remains optimistic about future Starship flights, with an eighth test flight planned for February 28, 2025. The company continues to refine the spacecraft, aiming for full reusability and the capability to support long-duration missions.