SpaceX’s ambitious Starship launch attempt on 16 January ended with an “unscheduled disassembly” shortly after liftoff. While the company successfully caught the Super Heavy booster using its launch tower’s “chopstick” arms, communication with the Starship spacecraft was lost during the ascent phase.
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Despite this setback, the launch marked significant progress for the Starship program. This iteration featured numerous improvements, including a redesigned propulsion system, an enhanced flight computer, and a new heat shield with advanced thermal protection materials. Notably, this launch also marked the first use of a previously flown Raptor engine on the Super Heavy booster.
Mechazilla has caught the Super Heavy booster! pic.twitter.com/aq91TloYzY
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 16, 2025
However, the flight experienced difficulties during the ascent phase, with the loss of several engines. This, coupled with the subsequent loss of communication, led to the vehicle’s demise.
Following the launch, reports from residents on the Turks and Caicos Islands indicated sightings of re-entry debris, suggesting that significant portions of the Starship spacecraft re-entered the atmosphere.
The Starship launch aimed to deploy 10 Starlink “simulators,” designed to mimic the size and weight of operational Starlink satellites. These simulators were intended to follow a suborbital trajectory and safely re-enter the atmosphere.
This test flight represents a crucial step in the development of the Starship program, despite the unfortunate outcome. SpaceX will continue to analyse the data gathered during the launch to identify the cause of the anomaly and implement necessary improvements for future missions.