SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful rocket ever produced, launched its third test flight on Thursday, departing from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
The short test flight is the latest step towards using the massive craft to shuttle astronauts to the moon’s surface and beyond. The launch officially kicked off at 8:25 a.m. CT, having been delayed numerous times, partly to help clear boats from certain no-go areas.
“Starship will make life multiplanetary,” Elon Musk posted on X shortly after the flight.
As reported last year in The Dallas Express, the Starship rocket was created to be the most powerful ever built. Ultimately, the ambitious project is intended to transport cargo and crew on interplanetary missions.
During a previous test flight, the rocket successfully launched from its home in South Texas before burning up in a fireball. Still, that launch was considered a success.
The official account for SpaceX on social media platform X detailed the latest test, sharing videos of the monumental event.
“Propellant loading complete. Starship is fully loaded with more than 4500 metric tons (or 10 million pounds) of propellant,” the account posted at 8:22 a.m. Four minutes later, SpaceX confirmed the shuttle had departed.
“Starship is coasting in space,” SpaceX posted in another update at 8:45 a.m.
By 9:16 a.m., the account revealed the rocket was already re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
During this latest test, the Starship rocket managed to fly further than it has in the past. The flight lasted roughly an hour before the rocket broke up above the Indian Ocean. SpaceX said the rocket did not splash down in the sea as was initially intended.
