Why the Two Stranded NASA Astronauts Weren’t on SpaceX Capsule’s Return Voyage
The mission was not accomplished in this case.
SpaceX—Elon Musk’s space technology company—launched a test flight of its Starship megarocket on March 6, but the mission was cut short when controllers lost contact with the vehicle, per NBC News.
About minutes into the launch, according to the outlet, multiple engines appeared to cut out as the vehicle was accelerating into space. The rocket was seen spinning before SpaceX lost contact with it.
“Prior to the end of the ascent burn, an energetic event in the aft portion of Starship resulted in the loss of several Raptor engines,” SpaceX said in a statement. “This in turn led to a loss of attitude control and ultimately a loss of communications with Starship.”
The statement confirmed that the last contact it had with the rocket was around the nine minute and 30 second mark.
The failed test flight comes shortly after an attempt in January, which similarly saw the Starship rocket explode midflight—also around the eight-minute mark.
