SpaceX’s Starship makes history with its most successful test yet

SpaceX’s Starship achieved a major milestone on its 10th test flight, marking the company’s most successful trial to date after a series of setbacks. Launching from Starbase, Texas, the 403-foot rocket executed a smooth ascent with flawless stage separation. The Super Heavy booster successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, testing alternative landing methods rather than the previously used tower catch system. This mission demonstrated key capabilities, including the deployment of mock Starlink satellites from Starship’s payload bay—an important first that showcased the rocket’s potential as a cargo delivery vehicle for future satellite constellations. The flight also featured a successful reignition of a vacuum-optimized Raptor engine, only the second time this maneuver has been completed, advancing Starship’s goal of full reusability. Reentry, historically a challenging phase, was deliberately made demanding to test new heat shield materials and the rocket’s rear flaps under extreme conditions. Despite visible damage to one flap, Starship survived