China News Service, March 15 (Guan Na) On the 14th local time, the US Space Exploration Technology Company (SpaceX)'s new generation heavy-lift launch vehicle "Starship" and the spacecraft integrated system conducted its third test launch.

　　CNN stated that SpaceX lost contact with the "Starship" during its reentry into the atmosphere, and the mission ended early. "The 'Starship' was lost, but significant progress was made."

Data map: The "Starship" launch site in Texas, USA.

　　SpaceX founder Musk subsequently tweeted three times on social media:

　　"'Starship' will make life multi-planetary (in the future)."

　　"'Starship' will take humans to Mars."

　　"'Starship' is growing rapidly."

　　On the same day, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an announcement stating that an accident occurred during the third test flight of the "Starship".

There have been no reports of public injuries or damage to public property.

The FAA is overseeing the accident investigation led by SpaceX.

　　After three test launches of "Starship", how far is Musk's "Mars dream"?

"The most powerful" launch vehicle in history

　　According to the SpaceX website, "Starship" can be described as the "most powerful" launch vehicle in history.

　　Features: The world’s largest and most powerful launch vehicle to date, reusable

　　Height: about 120 meters

　　Diameter: about 9 meters

　　Composition: The first stage is the "Super Heavy" booster, and the top is the spacecraft cabin

SpaceX starship rendering.

Image source: ICphoto

　　SpaceX founder Musk believes that reusable rockets are the future of space travel, which can reduce the cost and time of each launch.

　　In February 2022, Musk said at the "Starship" conference held in Texas that the "Starship" spacecraft cabin can be recycled within 6 to 8 hours and can be launched three times a day.

Rapid recovery means extremely low costs, he said, "perhaps just a few million dollars per flight, or even as low as a million dollars."

experienced many failures

　　However, starting from the launch of prototype manufacturing of the first spacecraft in 2018, the development and testing process of "Starship" has experienced many failures.

　　Before the first orbital flight test, the "Starship" prototype had carried out five high-altitude test flights.

In May 2021, the fifth high-altitude test flight of the "Starship" prototype finally landed safely - before that, it had not escaped the fate of explosion.

　　In April 2023, the "Starship" took off from Texas to perform its first orbital-level test flight mission, but it exploded shortly after takeoff.

Since then, SpaceX has made improvements to the Starship, launch tower and launch pad systems.

On April 20, 2023 local time, in Texas, the United States, the launch of the "Starship", known as "the most powerful rocket in history", failed.

The "starship" lost control in the air, exploded and disintegrated.

Pictured is the launch site.

(Video screenshot)

　　Seven months later, the "Starship" was launched on its second test flight. However, a few minutes after liftoff, the mission control center lost contact with the "Starship" and was forced to activate the self-destruct system.

　　The New York Times analyzed that during the second test launch of "Starship", all 33 engines of the rocket's first-stage booster were ignited, and the rocket also successfully achieved first- and second-stage separation, which shows that SpaceX has solved the problem. Key issues arose during the rocket's first test launch.

Musk’s “Mars Dream”

　　Every launch of the "Starship" attracts much attention because it is closely tied to Musk's dream of Mars.

　　"I think it is feasible to conduct an unmanned test landing there (Mars) within the next four years." Musk said during the International Astronautical Congress in October 2023.

Data map: Musk.

　　SpaceX has stated that the mission of "Starship" is to transport astronauts and supplies to Earth orbit in a relatively cheap way to help humans return to the moon, travel to Mars and beyond.

　　The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) stated that Musk often talks about his dream of building cities on Mars. He believes that settlements require a large population to be self-sufficient.

To realize this dream requires a combination of rockets and spacecrafts such as "Starship", which can transport more than 100 people to Mars at a time.

He also stated in August 2022 that he hopes to build a "self-sufficient" city on Mars within 20 years.

　　Mars is not the only destination of the "Starship". NASA plans to use the "Starship" to send astronauts from the "Artemis" lunar landing program to the moon in 2025. However, the New York Times ” quoted NASA officials as saying that this date may be postponed to at least 2026.

　　As early as 2018, Japanese tycoon Yusaku Maezawa booked a trip around the moon on the "Starship". Currently, he has selected 10 people (including two alternate members) to travel around the moon with him for free. It was originally planned to It will set off in 2023, but at present, it will take a few more years.

Musk’s “Mars Dream”

How long will it take to achieve this?

Perhaps as he once said,

there's still a long way to go.