Member-only story
Was Test Flight 10 A Success?
It’s not as simple as yes or no.
The BBC called Starship’s tenth test flight a “much-needed comeback”. Indeed, much of the internet and media have burst into praise for Musk’s giant rocket. But was this really a comeback? Or should we actually exercise a tiny bit of critical thinking?
Let me be clear, I was deeply impressed by Test Flight 10. It completely smashed my expectations. For the first time, a Starship delivered a dummy payload at orbital speeds. Likewise, the Super Heavy Booster tested a new shallow angle of attack landing, which uses more rocket thrust to slow down than atmospheric drag, and the test went really well. All small but important steps forward.
Starship met every one of its mission objectives on this test flight, which is in stark contrast with its past few flights, which ended in spectacular failure.
So, is that it? Has Starship turned a corner? Should we no longer consider it a colossally pointless death trap? Next stop Mars?
No. Not at all. This is where that critical thinking comes in. This test flight was far from flawless, and with the context of its mission, it is actually a huge disappointment.
The biggest issues with Starship are its rocket engines and fuel system. Essentially, they keep failing and shutting down…
