SpaceX's launched the fourth test flight of its Starship rocket on June 6, 2024 from Boca Chica, Texas. The Super Heavy booster successfully ignited 32 of its 33 engines, successfully launching, separating from the upper stage, and performing a simulated soft landing, into the ocean.
The upper stage, dramatically re-entered, losing part of one of the control flaps in the process, but still managed to perform a successful controlled descent, flip manoeuvre and splashdown.
The success brings Starship closer to operational status, which promises to yet again revolutionize the economics of space operations. Numerous start-ups today are planning to capitalize on the opportunity that Starship will unlock through greater mass and improved economics in reaching orbit.
Take a look at this fantastic video from SpaceX summarising the mission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2BdNDTlWbo
Starship’s fourth flight test launched with ambitious goals, attempting to go farther than any previous test before and begin demonstrating capabilities central to return and reuse of Starship and Super Heavy.
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