SpaceX Found new Trouble on Starship S38 after Onboard Landing Data Review. Musk Declared Solutions

SpaceX Found new Trouble on Starship S38 after Onboard Landing Data Review. Musk Declared Solutions
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SpaceX Found new Trouble on Starship S38 after Onboard Landing Data Review. Musk Declared Solutions
There’s something a bit disappointing to admit: Flight 11 wasn’t exactly a flawless mission. Ship 38 still ran into a few issues during landing. Nothing too serious, but if SpaceX doesn’t address them quickly in Starship v3, future plans like catching Starship with Mechazilla-could be delayed for a long time.
So, what exactly went wrong? Let’s dive into today’s episode of Alpha Tech.
Congratulations to SpaceX for pulling off an absolutely spectacular Starship Flight 11. It was such a big deal that SpaceX’s name was everywhere, on news sites, TV, social media, and tech forums, and everyone was talking and debating the flight.
But the excitement isn’t just because this was a test of the largest rocket in history. The real buzz comes from the fact that this was the final flight of Starship v2, paving the way for Starship v3. Progress like this is huge, it brings humanity one step closer to reaching Mars.
Even more importantly, this flight carries not just Elon Musk’s vision, but the hopes of millions dreaming of a future where humans become a multi-planetary species.
SpaceX Found new Trouble on Starship S38 after Onboard Landing Data Review. Musk Declared Solutions
That’s why it’s so important to evaluate what SpaceX has achieved, and what they haven’t. Beyond the publicly celebrated accomplishments, Ship 38 still had several issues during this flight.
Of course, this analysis isn’t about criticizing SpaceX. It’s about taking an objective look at the facts, so they can see the full picture and continue improving the vehicle.
Now, let’s take a closer look at what went wrong with Ship 38.
First up: temperature. After successfully deploying Starlink, the vehicle began its descent and re-entry, one of the most challenging phases for any spacecraft, whether it’s Dragon, Orion, Soyuz, or Starship. Re-entry depends on many factors, but the single most critical element is the heat shield.
This time, SpaceX had actually removed a number of ceramic tiles from key areas on the Starship’s body. Yet, even with fewer tiles, the vehicle handled this dangerous phase almost perfectly, proving its reliability, even when pushed to the limit.
SpaceX Found new Trouble on Starship S38 after Onboard Landing Data Review. Musk Declared Solutions
But here’s where things get worrying. Around T+55 minutes, with Ship 38 just 63 kilometers above Earth, the catch pin, a special component designed to interface with the chopstick arms of the Mechazilla tower during landing, began glowing bright red, a clear sign it was being blasted by extreme plasma heat.
This part is protected by ceramic tiles, but because of its protruding shape, the tiles here were thinner than elsewhere. The heat still penetrated into the underlying metal, allowing plasma to get in and oxidize the stainless steel surface, creating localized burning.
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