SpaceX's Starship Block 2 is struggling in development, marked by two explosive flight tests that raised concerns about the spacecraft's future. During its eighth test, the upper stage exploded, following a similar failure in January. Experts warn these failures could hinder SpaceX's progress and emphasize the company's vulnerabilities despite prior advancements. While successful demonstrations of other components showed potential reuse capabilities, the catastrophic failures of the upgraded Starship model highlight the challenges it faces against its predecessors, which had previously achieved successful orbits and recoveries.
Until this year, the Elon Musk-owned aerospace company has made considerable strides with its flagship rocket, overcoming the ill omen of its explosive debut.
The pair of botched flights could be a huge setback for SpaceX.
Daniel Dumbacher, a professor of engineering practice at Purdue University and a former NASA official, told the Times, "There's this persona that has built up around SpaceX, but you're starting to see that they're human, too."
Both tests of Starship Block 2, which features a slightly larger upper stage with added heat shielding and a redesigned fuel line, have ended in midair explosions before reaching space.
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