Even the most casual space lovers will be thrilled by the stunning never-before-seen photos that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has posted from Starship’s fourth test flight. Musk uploaded a number of pictures on X that showed off the thrilling mission’s events.
The first image captured the moment of Starship’s upper stage separation from the Super Heavy Booster, which occurred a couple of minutes after the 6:20 pm IST lift-off. The second image, both taken by onboard cameras, featured the upper stage reentering the atmosphere, surrounded by a blanket of bluish plasma. “Starship reentering like a meteor,” Musk captioned the post.
Starship’s flight on June 6 was the most successful out of the four, achieving all primary objectives. The key milestones included the splashdown of the booster in the Gulf of Mexico and the Ship in the Indian Ocean. While the booster splashdown was smooth, the Ship’s reentry was nerve-wracking. Concerns arose about the Ship’s ability to survive reentry due to the potential dislocation of one of its flaps from overheating. Musk confirmed that numerous heatshield tiles were lost during reentry, adding to the tension.
Despite these challenges, the mission demonstrated significant advancements, including the successful use of Starlink on Starship. This provided real-time telemetry and live high-definition video throughout every phase of the reentry. External cameras on the rocket also functioned for almost the entire mission, capturing breathtaking views and crucial data.
“The fourth flight of Starship made major strides to bring us closer to a rapidly reusable future,” SpaceX said in a summary of the flight. This mission not only showcased the technological prowess of SpaceX but also highlighted the potential for future advancements in space travel, marking a significant step towards making space exploration more accessible and routine.
