{"id":21996,"date":"2023-04-20T18:05:57","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T10:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spacexs-starship-takes-flight-bringing-us-closer-to-a-new-spaceflight-era\/"},"modified":"2023-04-20T18:05:57","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T10:05:57","slug":"spacexs-starship-takes-flight-bringing-us-closer-to-a-new-spaceflight-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spacexs-starship-takes-flight-bringing-us-closer-to-a-new-spaceflight-era\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX\u2019s Starship takes flight, bringing us closer to a new spaceflight era"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SpaceX launches its first full-stack Starship rocket<\/h2>\n

On its second attempt, SpaceX completed the first liftoff of its Super Heavy booster, the most powerful rocket ever. Surpassing even NASA\u2019s Space Launch System, which lifted off last November, taking the crown from SpaceX\u2019s Falcon Heavy rocket. Now that crown is back on SpaceX\u2019s head, which I\u2019m sure makes Elon Musk very happy.<\/p>\n

Liftoff took place around 8:33 a.m. CT from the orbital launch mount at SpaceX\u2019s Starbase facility just outside Brownsville, Texas. While there was a slight hold to close out two issues at T-40 seconds, the count went surprisingly smoothly. Then when the count hit zero, the Super Heavy booster with its 33 Raptor engines lifted off for the first time.<\/p>\n

Image: Theresa Cross \/ Space Explored<\/p>\n

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A fully stacked Starship rocket lifts off from Starbase. Image: Theresa Cross \/ Space Explored<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three engines on the first stage were not operating at liftoff, bringing the total down to 30. Then at T+30 seconds, a fourth engine shutdown, followed by a fifth at 50 seconds. This wasn\u2019t too unexpected as SpaceX designed the rocket to have redundant engines, and the Raptor is still early into its spaceflight career.<\/p>\n