NEW YORK: SpaceX successfully completed the first test flight of its Starship rocket since the company’s public listing, achieving a major milestone as the spacecraft landed intact in the Indian Ocean after a nearly one-hour mission.
SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk confirmed the success on social media, saying the Starship remained intact and continued transmitting telemetry after splashdown.
Company employees at the Starbase facility celebrated as live footage showed the spacecraft making its first intact water landing.
The test flight aimed to validate improvements introduced after the previous mission in May, including upgrades to the spacecraft’s heat shield and overall flight performance.
During the mission, Starship successfully deployed 20 Starlink V3 satellites in a test designed to support the future expansion of SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation.
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Engineers also gathered critical data on the vehicle’s thermal protection system during re-entry. However, the booster’s landing burn was harder than expected after not all planned engines ignited, resulting in a faster-than-intended splashdown.
Friday’s launch came after an earlier attempt was aborted due to engine ignition issues, followed by weather-related delays.
The successful mission marks an important step for SpaceX following its stock market debut in June and supports the company’s broader ambitions in space exploration and commercial satellite services.
Starship is also central to NASA’s Artemis programme, with SpaceX contracted to develop a lunar landing version of the spacecraft for future Moon missions. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman welcomed the progress, saying the rocket’s capabilities would play a key role in ensuring humanity’s long-term return to the Moon.
