Elon Musk’s SpaceX successfully completed its most impressive Starship test flight to date on Thursday, even though the spacecraft didn’t survive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
The mission, hailed as a step forward by NASA, saw the Starship travel more than halfway around the world before a fiery demise over the Indian Ocean.
This third test flight of the Starship system marked a series of important milestones, according to The Washington Post. After a near-flawless launch from SpaceX’s South Texas facility, the Starship separated from the Super Heavy booster and embarked on a nearly hour-long journey.
This success comes as welcome news for NASA, which has invested heavily in the Starship program. With a $4 billion commitment, NASA aims to utilize Starship for the first crewed lunar landings since the Apollo missions.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated SpaceX on their achievement, stating on[ X, “Congrats to @SpaceX on a successful test flight! Starship has soared into the heavens. Together, we are making great strides through Artemis to return humanity to the Moon — then look onward to Mars.”
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has assured the public that the company is already working on future iterations and hopes to launch again soon.