SpaceX's Starship Launch Captured from ISS as Artemis Moon Mission Nears

December 5, 2024
SpaceX's Starship Launch Captured from ISS as Artemis Moon Mission Nears
  • SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever constructed at 400 feet tall, successfully launched for the sixth time on November 19, 2024, from the Starbase site in South Texas.

  • Although the original flight plan included a catch attempt for the Super Heavy booster using the launch tower's 'chopstick' arms, communication issues led SpaceX to cancel this maneuver.

  • This launch coincided with the International Space Station's passage overhead, allowing astronaut Don Pettit to capture stunning photos of the event.

  • Starship is designated as NASA's first crewed lander for the Artemis program, aiming to land astronauts on the Moon by late 2026 during the Artemis 3 mission.

  • During this flight, both stages of Starship—the Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage spacecraft—successfully completed their planned water landings in the Gulf of Mexico and the Indian Ocean, respectively.

  • NASA's ISS account shared a nearly three-minute video on December 4, 2024, showcasing the rocket's launch plume as seen from the station.

  • SpaceX is developing Starship not only for lunar missions but also for future missions to Mars, aligning closely with NASA's broader objectives.

Summary based on 1 source


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