Elon Musk's SpaceX launched the most powerful and tallest rocket ever built-the Starship V3-a day after a delay due to a hydraulic pin issue. The test flight ended about an hour later with the spacecraft splashing down and exploding in the Indian Ocean as planned.
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot said the booster failed its boost-back burn and one engine malfunctioned, but the trajectory remained safe. The rocket released 20 mock Starlink satellites and two heat shield scanners during its suborbital cruise.
This was the 12th flight of a Starship rocket. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated the team, calling it a step toward the Moon and Mars. The Starship V3 debut comes ahead of SpaceX’s IPO, expected to be the largest Wall Street listing, potentially making Musk the first trillionaire.