SpaceX launches Starship v3 rocket

Post by irjustin » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:22 AM UTC

Laremere wrote: post #15

Summary from my watch: - Launch roughly on time, after a scrub yesterday. (Sounds like the scrub was due to ground equipment, most notably the water system.) - Initial ascent was good, but then one engine on the booster went out. - Relight of the booster's engines after stage separation for the boost back burn failed. Engines did light again for a landing burn, but seems to have hit the water harder than expected and…

Post by gordonhart » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:29 AM UTC

jmyeet wrote: post #46

It's worth remembering that, according to SpaceX's own filings, they've spent >$15 billion on the Starship program thus far with more to come. And SpaceX is burning cash still, particularly because Elon Musk bailed out his own bad decisions with Twitter and xAI with SpaceX stock, basically. Flight 12 was a relative success. Some engines failed to light but that's an unintended good test. Rockets are typically designe…

Post by irjustin » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:38 AM UTC

Laremere wrote: post #44

stephc_int13 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The takeoff looked almost normal but I noticed a slight drift from vertical, likely because one of the engines was dead or dying. Overall the V3 is supposed to be an upgrade but actual progress is more or less stalling compared V2.

It is supposed to tilt away from the launch tower immediately, you can see this on previous flights. This keeps the engine plume away from the chopsticks and top of the launch tower.

Post by Rebelgecko » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:42 AM UTC

avmich wrote: post #51

7e wrote: post #45

Another flight with many explosions and a trivial payload. Trial and error, trial and error. At least these million monkeys have upgraded from typewriters to something more fun.

You don't see the progress between flights, do you?

Post by protortyp » Sat, May 23, 2026, 2:50 AM UTC