While the second test flight of the SpaceX Starship space launch system ended with the explosion of both booster and spacecraft, perhaps the most technically challenging aspect of the mission, hot staging, operated perfectly. Hot staging simplifies rocket design by eliminating ullage rockets and associated sequencers, but it’s hard on the booster stage, which at SpaceX, is expected to not only survive, but fly back for a soft landing for eventual reuse. 

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