SpaceX has pulled off a successful test flight of its newest generation rocket, Starship, reversing a trend of disappointing failures. The world's largest and most powerful rocket blasted off from Texas just after 18:30 local time (23:30 BST) for a nail-biting 60-minute flight.
During the flight, engine parts appeared to explode at one stage, and flaps on the side of the rocket caught fire and swung from side-to-side. US space agency NASA plans to use Starship to send humans to the Moon for its Artemis programme in 2027.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk praised the team’s efforts, especially after three previous Starship launches ended in failure this year, including one dramatic explosion on the launch pad in June.
The flight showed promising signs from the beginning, with all 33 engines firing successfully. The booster separated and fell into the Gulf of Mexico, while Starship continued to ascend, reaching a height of almost 200 km above Earth.
This test was a major step for SpaceX, which aims to develop a fully reusable transport system for missions to the Moon and Mars. With plans for uncrewed flights to Mars in the next twelve months, the future of space exploration is looking increasingly ambitious.
