The SpaceX Starship has finally completed a successful test flight after a series of setbacks.
The most powerful rocket ever built blasted off from the launchpad at Starbase in southern Texas Tuesday night.
According to SpaceX, "The flight test began with Super Heavy successfully lifting off by igniting all 33 Raptor engines and ascending over the Gulf of America. Successful ascent was followed by a hot-staging maneuver, with Starship’s upper stage igniting its six Raptor engines to separate from Super Heavy and continue the flight to space."
The Super Heavy booster splashed down in the Gulf of America as planned.
"Using its four flaps for control, the spacecraft arrived at its splashdown point in the Indian Ocean, successfully executed a landing flip, and completed the flight test with a landing burn and soft splashdown."
SpaceX is pushing for Starship to make its maiden uncrewed voyage to Mars by late 2026, when the planet will next be closest to Earth.