SpaceX has successfully completed a fifth test of its Starship rocket system. The uncrewed test was carried out on Sunday at the company’s launch center in Boca Chica, Texas.
During the flight, the 121-meter-tall Starship was successfully propelled into space by a SpaceX Super Heavy booster rocket. After reaching an altitude of approximately 70 kilometers, the booster separated from Starship’s second stage, or top half, as planned.
The reusable booster was then directed by ground controllers to return to the launch center. Before touching down on the landing pad, the rocket re-lit three of its 33 Raptor engines to slow down for a controlled landing.
The Super Heavy then positioned itself to land. For the first time, the booster was “caught” and secured in place by a massive structure featuring large metal arms. Video of the landing captured by SpaceX demonstrated the booster rocket being effortlessly captured by the structure.
A short time later, Starship’s second stage safely splashdowned in the Indian Ocean. The successful test flight and landings marked significant progress for SpaceX’s Starship system.
The American space agency NASA plans to use Starship to carry the next U.S. astronauts to the moon. This landing will mark the first since NASA’s Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
The next planned moon landing, set for September 2026, is part of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent base around the moon to support ongoing lunar visits and potential future trips to Mars.
SpaceX was selected to spearhead NASA’s moon landing initiative following numerous successful launches and missions in recent years. The company has reliably transported astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) since 2020.
NASA has also engaged American aerospace company Boeing as a prospective partner in its Artemis program. However, Boeing’s Starliner rocket has encountered significant delays and challenges in previous test flights.
In its last flight, Starliner successfully transported two American astronauts – Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams – to the ISS in early June. They intended to stay in space for only a week, but ongoing technical difficulties prevented their return.
NASA recently decided to have Starliner return to Earth without the astronauts, planning for Wilmore and Williams to come home from the ISS in February on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Prior to SpaceX’s latest mission, several Starship rockets had exploded during test flights. The last non-explosive test occurred in June, where SpaceX reported damage to heat-resistant tiles on the exterior of Starship. However, improvements made since then seem to have yielded positive results.
After Sunday’s flight, SpaceX chief Elon Musk stated that the rockets appeared generally in good condition, with only minor warping to some outer engine parts due to intense heat, which he noted could be easily repaired.
Musk, who also leads the social media service X, expressed his excitement over the successful landing of the Starship booster rocket. Online, he wrote, “The tower has caught the rocket!! Big step towards making life multiplanetary was made today.”
The successful test flight was also commended on X by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who congratulated SpaceX on its successful booster catch and fifth Starship flight test. He emphasized that “continued testing” would set the stage for a series of “bold missions” in the future.
Join the discussion: What are your thoughts on SpaceX’s latest test? Do you believe we are closer to seeing regular lunar missions? Let us know in the comments below!
Quiz – SpaceX Calls New Starship Test a Success, Captures Rocket at Landing
Start the Quiz to find out
Words in This Story
booster – n. an engine on a spacecraft that provides extra power for the initial part of a flight.
pad – n. a flat structure used by aircraft like rockets or helicopters for launching or landing.
splashdown – v. (phrasal) when a spacecraft lands in the sea post-return from space.
tile – n. a flat piece of material used to cover surfaces like floors, roofs, or walls.
warp – v. to become bent into an incorrect shape.
chopsticks – n. thin sticks traditionally used for eating in many cultures.
tower – n. a tall structure or component of a building.
bold – adj. not afraid to take risks.