SpaceX to launch world’s biggest rocket in test to finally reach Mars
- SpaceX is launching the world’s biggest rocket today, 14 March
- It’s a huge test of Elon Musk’s ultimate ambitions to get humans to Mars
- It’s the Starship rocket’s third test from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas
Published on Mar 14, 2024 at 5:15 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Mar 15, 2024 at 4:19 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
SpaceX is firing up the world’s biggest rocket with a launch today, 14 March.
It’s a huge test of Elon Musk’s ultimate ambitions to get humans to Mars.
The Starship rocket is embarking on its third test from a launchpad at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
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SpaceX shared pictures of the fully stacked rocket system on X on Wednesday (13 March).
It measures a massive 120 metres in height (roughly).
This is the 319th launch for Elon Musk’s SpaceX with one flight crew member accidentally catching this ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ Falcon 9 liftoff.
Previously SpaceX’s Dragon completed ‘splashdown’ as Crew-7 Mission returned to Earth.
Sadly two previous attempts to fly the uncrewed spacecraft from Texas to Hawaii ended in high-altitude explosions.
Starship’s second flight test achieved a number of major milestones.
It provided invaluable data to continue developing Starship at speed despite simply being ‘tests’ putting “flight hardware in a flight environment to maximize learning”.
SpaceX is hopeful for a more positive outcome this time, however, as this third launch tests a different route.
The new route will allow an attempt at new techniques like in-space engine burns while maximizing public safety.
The rocket will then splashdown on a designated site in the Indian Ocean.
The third flight test aims to build on what was learned from previous flights.
It will also attempt other objectives, including the successful ascent burn of both stages, opening and closing Starship’s payload door, a propellant transfer demonstration during the upper stage’s coast phase, the first ever re-light of a Raptor engine while in space, and a controlled reentry of Starship.
Ultimately they are working to build a fully reusable transportation system capable of carrying both crew and cargo to Earth orbit.
It’s hoped that from there it can help humanity return to the Moon and ultimately travel to Mars and beyond.
And spirits are high as SpaceX posted: “Weather is 70% favorable for today’s third integrated flight test of Starship.”
They added that the action would be shared via a webcast around 30 minutes before liftoff.
Blast off is currently targeted for 7:30 a.m. CT within a 110-minute test window after being pushed back by 20 minutes.
As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is subject to change.
Preparations are already well underway, with third-party images showing propellent ready to be loaded into Starship’s fuel tanks.
“Each of these flight tests continue to be just that: a test,” SpaceX said ahead of the launch attempt.
“They aren’t occurring in a lab or on a test stand, but are putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximise learning.”
Keep your eyes on the skies as it could be a stunning display – this Falcon 9 lit up the sky ahead of returning to Earth and it was pretty spectacular.
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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
