MOSCOW, April 20 Starship flight can be called 30% successful, but the launch of the heaviest rocket in history is already a great success, said the head Russian Space Policy Institute Ivan Moiseev.
The first test flight of Starship, which started in Texas, lasted several minutes. Soon the rocket began to rotate, the separation of the first stage of the Super Heavy did not occur, and the ship exploded. Elon Musk's SpaceX ironically called it a «quick and unscheduled takedown.»
«Quick and Unscheduled Dismantling»: Starship exploded shortly after launch crop-width=»600″ data-crop-height=»338″ data-source-sid=»ap_photo» title=»Starship SpaceX launch vehicle launch at Boca Chica, Texas » class=»»/>
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«I would say that the launch was 30% successful. It is believed that if the first rocket left the launch pad at all, then this is a great success. At the same time, of course, an accident … An unpleasant technical moment, but not catastrophic,» Moiseev said.
According to him, on the broadcast it was noticeable that after the launch, part of the rocket engines stopped working and the ship reached the critical point of maximum aerodynamic drag.
«Few people, including Musk himself, hoped that she would complete the entire program. The fact that she left is already a success,» Moiseev added.
Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built for space launches. Together with the accelerator Super Heavy Starship reaches a length of 120 meters. The first stage of the rocket is powered by 33 Raptor engines. Previously, at least seven different Starship tests ended in a rocket explosion.