BBC:
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched the largest and most powerful rocket in history after its highly anticipated test flight was delayed.
The uncrewed Starship V3 rocket blasted off from Texas just after 17:30 (2230 GMT) on Friday, days after SpaceX revealed plans for a record-breaking stock market debut.
Once in space, Starship deployed 20 dummy satellites before making re-entry and about an hour after launch it splashed down in the Indian Ocean, where it exploded as planned. “Congratulations @SpaceX team on an epic first Starship V3 launch & landing!” Musk said. “You scored a goal for humanity.”
The first attempted launch on Thursday was postponed due to a launch-tower malfunction.
The SpaceX team celebrated after the launch, and while the mission achieved most of its major objectives, it did not go exactly to plan.
Both stages of the rocket suffered engine failures but the test flight was largely successful – a result that will likely boost confidence both for investors and for Nasa, which intends to use the Starship vehicle in future missions to the moon.
Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated Musk and the SpaceX team.
“One step closer to the Moon… one step closer to Mars,” he posted on X.
It was the 12th flight of a SpaceX rocket, and featured the latest design which stands 124 meters (407 feet) high – more than 40 storeys.
The debut of the Starship V3 comes ahead of SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO), which is set to be the largest in Wall Street history. It could start next month.
Because of the shares Musk will own in SpaceX, which values itself at $1.25tn, the listing could make him the first-ever trillionaire.
SpaceX not only makes rockets, but has a satellite internet service called Starlink, and owns the controversial artificial intelligence (AI) firm xAI.
