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Starship upper stage lost in second mishap in a row
- The Starship upper stage suffered multiple premature engine shutdowns during SpaceX's eighth test flight, leading to a spectacular breakup in mid-air.
- This marked the program's second consecutive upper stage failure, with the vehicle unable to reach its planned sub-orbital altitude.
- The goal of these flight tests is to learn and make progress, as seen in developmental programs like the Starship project.
- The Super Heavy rocket, capable of generating massive thrust, lifted off from the Texas Gulf Coast but faced issues during the launch.
- The upper stage and first stage had separate trajectories, with the first stage successfully returning for capture by mechanical arms on the launch tower.
- However, telemetry showed four out of six engines on the upper stage prematurely shutting down, leading to a loss of control and eventual breakup.
- SpaceX aims for rapid recovery but might face a longer delay in returning to flight status after two consecutive failures.
- The flight plan included various tests, such as the deployment of simulated Starlink satellites and in-space engine restarts, to assess the Starship's capabilities.
- The Starship was expected to land in the Indian Ocean but failed to do so, facing an unexpected breakup during its descent.
- SpaceX and NASA's missions depend on the success of the Super Heavy-Starship system, crucial for lunar missions and crew transportation plans.
- The latest mishap occurred amidst SpaceX's plans for significant facility upgrades at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to support future launches.
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