SpaceX notches major wins during tenth Starship test

SpaceX achieved significant progress during the tenth test flight of its Starship rocket, marking a turnaround after a series of prior failures. The 403-foot vehicle launched from Starbase, Texas, powered by 33 methane-fueled Raptor engines, and successfully separated its Super Heavy booster about three minutes after liftoff. Notably, the booster demonstrated a new landing maneuver by intentionally switching from primary to backup engines during descent, culminating in a targeted splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, the upper stage, known as Starship, reached space and for the first time opened its payload bay doors to release eight Starlink mass-simulator satellites, a capability previously unproven in flight. The upper stage also successfully reignited a Raptor engine in orbit and reentered the atmosphere, testing its upgraded thermal protection system under extreme heat. SpaceX conducted various experiments during reentry, including testing new tile materials and configurations on the vehicle’s exterior. Importantly, the Starship maintained communication with