Starship: Take 2

The second Starship/Superheavy launched today. Vastly more successful than the first flight, but both stages were still destroyed.

This sort of thing would be unacceptable for a modern NASA launch system… but it was common in early launch vehicle development. Atlas and Titan kerploded with regularity. This sort of thing is not desirable, but it is a natural part of the learning process.

Scott Manley has done an analysis of the video and has some good suggestions about what happened with the booster. There would seem likely to be some serious issues with slosh and propellant hammer effects, caused by the sudden deceleration and flip maneuver. These are resolvable.

But beyond the technical issues and successes… this flight was simply *gorgeous.*

Some beautiful views of the Starship II 🚀,
before the take-off, while take-off, during the Hot-Staging phase and after separation and charting its solo Odyssey. One day a similar machine will carry a human to Mars, beside all the negativity.#Space #SpaceX #Starship

Best… pic.twitter.com/Qm3BxrBIj3

— Masroor H. Bukhari (@MasroorBukhari) November 18, 2023

I LOVE this view of the Raptors shutting down in segments!! 🔥 #SpaceX #Starship@DJSnM @Erdayastronaut pic.twitter.com/UaNdMMUfAx

— Debapratim (@debapratim_) November 18, 2023

So majestic – look at her!!#SpaceX #StarshipLaunch

pic.twitter.com/Fsxnbs5vz2

— This Brown Geek (@thisbrowngeek) November 18, 2023

OMG! No Words!! #SpaceX #Starship #ITF2 #Elonmusk #Liftoff #Starbase #Texas https://t.co/TGuheUrBqZ pic.twitter.com/av5nIGyUVz

— Scott Schilke (@SchilkeScott) November 18, 2023

How wonderful!👍
Congratulations #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/klliKCEvpA

— Rí (@TanKitchen91) November 18, 2023

The most awaited lift off of the year. Few more steps towards success 🚀 what a view 😍🫶#SpaceX #StarshipLaunch #Starship pic.twitter.com/tJf9T1kdz7

— cosmichaos (@karmicoder) November 18, 2023