On its 10th test flight, SpaceX’s Starship rocket finally cleared two long-standing hurdles.
- The Super Heavy booster executed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico after testing a backup-engine landing maneuver.
- The upper stage opened its payload bay and deployed eight Starlink test satellites, relit a Raptor in orbit, and splashed down in the Indian Ocean without losing communications, a first.
The mission also tested thermal-protection upgrades, including new metallic and actively cooled tiles.
Related: SpaceX Prepares for High-Stakes Starship Test After Months of Setbacks
This successful run marks a turning point for SpaceX’s efforts to prove Starship ready for both NASA’s 2027 Artemis moon landing and the deployment of next-gen Starlink satellites.
