NASA wants to use a version of the Starship spacecraft to land humans on the moon in 2025. But SpaceX's explosive mission on Thursday may impact that plan.
SpaceX’s Starship vehicle suffered what the spaceflight company called a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” on Thursday. In other words, it blew up.
Related Videos The most powerful rocket ever developed launched from SpaceX’s Starbase site in Boca Chica, Texas, on its maiden flight. The spectacle of the massive machine — comprising the first-stage Super Heavy and upper-stage Starship spacecraft — was a sight to behold, as the rocket’s mighty Raptor engines powered the 120-meter-tall vehicle skyward.
Artemis III is currently scheduled for 2025, but a lot has to go right for NASA to be able to stick to its plan. Considering the current situation, NASA will do well to make the 2025 target date for the crewed lunar landing. To give it any real hope, SpaceX will surely have to succeed in getting the Starship to orbit on its next test flight.
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