SpaceX, the American space exploration technology company, faced another significant setback on Tuesday (local time, May 28) with its latest test flight of the "Starship." During the test, the spacecraft lost control in space and broke apart on its return to Earth, marking the third consecutive failure to achieve key flight objectives for this heavy-lift rocket, in which Musk holds high hopes.
Successful Launch Attracts Millions of Viewers Online
At 6:36 PM, the integrated launch system, consisting of the "Starship" upper stage and "Super Heavy" booster, ignited and lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Southern Texas. The launch attracted over 1.1 million viewers who watched the live broadcast on social platform X (formerly Twitter). Initially, everything proceeded smoothly, with the "Starship" successfully separating from the booster and completing a second ignition.
Leak During Flight, Hatch Failure Interrupts Test
However, problems soon emerged. During space maneuvers, a SpaceX commentator reported that the "Starship" encountered serious issues when attempting attitude adjustment and return tasks, leading to a loss of control and ultimately breaking apart during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. The company revealed that both the booster and the spacecraft might have fallen into the Gulf of Mexico.
The mission also included a critical, but unachieved objective—releasing a set of simulated satellites. This satellite deployment test was aborted due to the "Starship's" hatch not opening as expected. The test was intended for simulators of the next-generation "Starlink" internet satellites, preparing the rocket for future payload missions.
Attitude Control Failure Identified as Key Issue
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot noted during the live broadcast that a leak in the "Starship's" fuel tank system led to a failure in the attitude control system. The rocket spun violently during re-entry, unable to maintain stable flight.
"We have been dealing with some leakage issues, which is the direct cause of the loss of control," Huot said.
FAA Initiates Investigation, Musk's Meeting Delayed
The mission was conducted under a flight license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA stated it is aware of the anomaly and is cooperating with SpaceX in its investigation. Preliminary information indicates that the accident did not harm the public, nor was any public property damaged.
An all-hands SpaceX employee meeting at Starbase, originally scheduled for 8 PM and to be hosted by Musk, had not taken place by 9 PM, with no reasons provided for the delay, sparking speculation it might be related to the aftermath of the test flight failure.
