Starship, which Elon Musk’s company SpaceX is behind, has launched Starlink satellites into space.
The rocket Starshipproduced by SpaceX, was sent into orbit around the Earth for the first time on Monday afternoon Danish time.
Starship is the largest space rocket ever built. It was launched from Texas and sent into orbit at a speed of 26,300 kilometers per hour.
This is written by the AFP news agency.
This is Starship’s 14th test flight.
Shortly after the unmanned rocket was launched, it launched 26 Starlink satellites.
This happened even though one of the rocket’s engines was out of order.
When it became clear that one of the engines was out of order, a spokesman for SpaceX announced that the rocket would not be able to be sent into Earth orbit.
But shortly after that assessment was changed.
Starlink satellites are used to deliver internet to users all over the Earth.
On social media X, the chief executive of the United States’ space agency, Nasa, praises the launch of Starship.
– Congratulations, SpaceX! Great launch, where we managed to get the craft into orbit and handle every step in a safe, responsible and not least inspiring way, writes Nasa chief Jared Isaacman.
– Nasa, along with the rest of the interested public, looks forward to helping where we can and to Starship’s missions becoming routine!
The upper part of the rocket was released from the launcher 26 minutes after launch.
The test flight should have lasted ten hours, and during that time the Spaceship should have circled the Earth six times.
But after an analysis, SpaceX has come to the conclusion that the rocket must return to Earth earlier, according to a spokesperson for the company, according to CNN.
According to the plan, the journey will end with a landing in the Pacific Ocean, and this will happen at around 18:00 Danish time, when the rocket has been in the air for approximately three hours.
The launch vehicle itself fell into the Gulf of Mexico when it had detached from the rest of the rocket.
Starship was first sent into space in 2023 after several years of development.
Billionaire and businessman Elon Musk is behind SpaceX, which in addition to Starship produces Starlink satellites.
RITZAU
