SpaceX's biggest Starship yet completes test flight with splashdown in Indian Ocean

Lead

SpaceX launched its biggest and most powerful Starship rocket yet on a test flight Friday, sending the upgraded vehicle on a suborbital trajectory that ended with a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The launch, the 12th for the Starship program, came two days after CEO Elon Musk announced he is taking the company public, according to multiple reports.

The rocket, designated V3, lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase facility near the Texas-Mexico border at just after 5:30 p.m. local time (2230 GMT), as reported by BBC, Dawn, and Deutsche Welle. The flight lasted about an hour before the upper stage re-entered the atmosphere and splashed down, erupting in a planned explosion upon impact.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the event was broadly consistent across outlets, though each emphasized different aspects. BBC and Dawn focused on the flight's success and its timing relative to SpaceX's anticipated initial public offering (IPO). Deutsche Welle similarly highlighted the IPO context, noting the launch comes as SpaceX nears what could be a record-breaking public listing.

The Guardian and South China Morning Post (SCMP) framed the launch primarily around NASA's Artemis program, noting that the redesigned Starship is an upgraded version that NASA is counting on to land astronauts on the moon. Both outlets also reported that the rocket carried 20 mock Starlink satellites.

SCMP also published a separate analysis piece detailing skepticism from China's space sector about Starship's long-term viability, citing engine reliability concerns.

Key Claims

• Biggest Starship yet: The V3 Starship stands at 124 meters (407 feet) when fully stacked, making it taller and more powerful than earlier versions, according to The Guardian, SCMP, and The Hindu.
• 12th test flight: The launch marked the 12th test flight of the Starship rocket, as reported by The Guardian, SCMP, and The Hindu.
• Mock Starlink satellites: The rocket carried 20 mock Starlink satellites for deployment during the flight, according to The Guardian, SCMP, and The Hindu. BBC and Dawn reported 22 mock satellites in one account, but the more widely cited number is 20.
• Splashdown in Indian Ocean: The upper stage made a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean as planned, according to BBC, Dawn, and Deutsche Welle.
• Engine issues: The flight experienced engine anomalies. BBC and Dawn reported that one of the upper stage's six engines malfunctioned during an initial burn, requiring a longer burn from the remaining engines. SCMP reported engine failures in both the first and second stages.
• Booster anomaly: The Super Heavy booster failed to complete its boost-back burn after separating, according to comments by SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot, as reported by BBC and Dawn. The booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico uncontrolled.
• IPO preparation: SpaceX is preparing for an initial public offering, which could be the largest in Wall Street history, according to BBC, Dawn, and Deutsche Welle. Musk announced the company would go public two days before the launch.
• NASA contract: NASA is paying SpaceX billions of dollars to provide a lunar lander for its Artemis program, as reported by The Guardian, Deutsche Welle, and The Hindu.

Perspectives

SpaceX and supporters

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk hailed the flight as "epic" and said the team "scored a goal for humanity" in a post on X. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated the team, saying it was "one step closer to the Moon… one step closer to Mars" (per Deutsche Welle). SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot acknowledged the mission was not perfect, calling the orbital insertion "not nominal" but "within bounds" (as quoted by BBC and Dawn).

China's space sector

SCMP reported growing doubts within China's space sector about Starship's long-term success, quoting observers on Chinese social media who pointed to engine reliability issues. One commenter reportedly said the launch was "a fine scientific experiment, but not a perfect story for a much-anticipated IPO." These concerns appear to be based on public assessments and have not been independently verified.

NASA's perspective

NASA is relying on Starship for its Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the moon. The agency is also paying Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin to develop a competing lunar lander, as reported by The Guardian and Deutsche Welle. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman's comments before the launch expressed eagerness to see the vehicle fly.

Timeline and Context

The launch followed a one-day delay due to a malfunctioning hydraulic pin in the launch tower, as reported by Reuters. The previous Starship test flight occurred in October, and earlier flights in 2024 ended in midair explosions. This flight was the first for the V3 design, which includes a redesigned booster with fewer but larger grid fins and a more robust fuel transfer line, according to The Hindu.

Correction appended: An earlier version of this article, based on BBC and Dawn reports, stated the rocket carried 22 mock satellites. Most reporting, including from The Guardian, SCMP, and The Hindu, cites 20 mock Starlink satellites. We have used the majority figure.