EVER SINCE its was based in 2002 SpaceX has been a proponent of the “fail quick; be taught quick” college of engineering. And the previous few months have seen some notably spectacular failures. Two check flights of its Starship mega-rocket, in January and March, led to fireworks as their higher phases broke aside over the Caribbean. A 3rd check, in Might, lasted a little longer, till a gasoline leak doomed the rocket to an uncontrolled re-entry. In June one more higher stage blew up, this time throughout a floor check.
