SpaceX completed a largely successful test flight of its next-generation Starship rocket on Friday, deploying mock satellites and performing a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean as Elon Musk’s company prepares for a planned IPO. The flight marked a key milestone after months of delays and tested the upgraded V3 vehicle.
The uncrewed rocket lifted off from Starbase, Texas, and separated cleanly after liftoff. Starship continued its cruise, released a batch of simulated Starlink satellites, and survived re-entry despite losing one of its six engines early in flight. The upper stage completed a planned ocean splashdown after a flight lasting just over an hour.
The Super Heavy booster separated as expected and landed in the Gulf, but it failed to complete a planned boost-back burn. SpaceX said the mission still delivered valuable engineering data. Elon Musk praised the team on X, while analysts said the test showed meaningful progress despite minor anomalies.
The flight comes as investors watch SpaceX ahead of a possible record IPO next month. Starship is central to the company’s plans for Starlink expansion, lunar missions under NASA’s Artemis program, and long-term Mars goals. Engineers will now use flight data to refine the system for future tests and commercial launches.
Related Readings:
Source link
#SpaceX #Starship #Test #Ahead #IPO #Plans #European #Financial #Review
