SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded by Elon Musk, has announced its third Starship mission set to launch on March 14. Despite the previous two missions ending in explosions, SpaceX considers them successful due to the valuable data collected. The upcoming mission aims to test various tasks and features of the Starship spacecraft, including opening the payload door, transferring propellant, and relighting the Raptor engine while in space. This test is crucial for future missions as SpaceX plans to propel Starship through space.
One notable change for this mission is the flight path. Instead of landing in the Pacific Ocean, Starship will attempt a safe landing in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX claims that this new flight path maximizes public safety, although specific details were not provided. The mission is expected to last for an hour and 15 minutes, shorter than previous missions that were planned for 90 minutes.
Recapping the previous missions, the first Starship mission in April 2023 faced a forced detonation when the stages failed to separate. The second mission in November 2023 successfully separated the stages but exploded when attempting to vent its liquid oxygen. Despite these failures, SpaceX considers them successful in terms of achieving milestones and gathering valuable data.
The upcoming third mission is scheduled for March 14 at 8 a.m. ET, pending regulatory approval and favorable weather conditions. However, the timing of the launch is subject to change as SpaceX awaits a Federal Aviation Administration license. To watch the mission live, SpaceX will provide two livestream options: the SpaceX third mission landing page and the X account owned by Elon Musk.
SpaceX’s Starship missions play a crucial role in achieving Elon Musk’s goal of reaching and eventually settling on the moon and Mars. With each test flight, SpaceX gains valuable insights and continues to develop its ambitious spacecraft. While explosions may have marred the previous missions, SpaceX remains optimistic and determined to push the boundaries of space exploration. As the third mission approaches, all eyes will be on SpaceX to see if the saying “third time’s the charm” holds true for their Starship program.