On Episode 103 of This Week In Space, Rod and Tariq talk with Space.com's Dr. Mike Wall about last week's third test flight of SpaceX's Starship.
The successful launch, ascent, staging, and testing of propellant transfer and the cargo bay door were all brilliant, yet both vehicles were destroyed before completing their planned trajectories, and the upper stage didn't make it into orbit (though it did reach "orbital velocity," according to Elon).
So what's the real story on this test flight? When will the next one be? How close is SpaceX to routine launches of Starship, and when might it be ready to land NASA astronauts on the moon? And finally--an interstellar Starship, really Elon?
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Space news of the week
- Russian Soyuz rocket suffers rare last-minute abort during launch of 3 astronauts to ISS (video)
- Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut flight test for NASA could launch as soon as May 1
- Astronomers criticize proposed space telescope budget cuts
- SpaceX launches giant Starship rocket into space on epic 3rd test flight (video)
- Out There: A Scientific Guide to Alien Life, Antimatter, and Human Space Travel (For the Cosmically Curious)
Model Falcon 9!
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Finally, did you know you can launch your own SpaceX rocket? Model rocket maker Estes' stunning scale model of a Falcon 9 rocket that you can pick up now. The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. You can save 10% by using the code IN-COLLECTSPACE at checkout, courtesy of our partners collectSPACE.com.
About This Week In Space
This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?
Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.
