On November 19, 2024, SpaceX launched another test flight of its Starship rocket from Texas. This marked a significant step in the company’s goal to develop the world’s most powerful rocket. Unlike previous launches, the booster was not caught by giant mechanical arms, as the catch was canceled after four minutes due to technical issues. The booster was directed to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, a safety measure implemented after communication was lost with a launch tower computer. This was the sixth test flight for Starship, which has been designed to transport astronauts to the Moon and Mars. SpaceX continues to develop this rocket in collaboration with NASA, which has invested over $4 billion for future lunar missions.

Starship’s latest flight was different from earlier tests in a few key ways. It launched in the late afternoon to allow daylight visibility of the spacecraft’s descent. The test achieved important milestones, such as igniting one of the spacecraft’s engines in space and conducting experiments on thermal protection systems, which could help improve safety during future flights. The spacecraft descended nose-first before flipping and landing upright in the Indian Ocean. While the test flight was not without challenges, SpaceX’s ongoing improvements to Starship demonstrate the company’s commitment to advancing space exploration. SpaceX plans to continue refining the rocket to make it fully reusable, aiming to reduce costs and increase the speed of future missions.