SpaceX successfully launched its thirteenth Super Heavy-Starship rocket on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in its testing program. The massive rocket, standing 397 feet tall and powered by 33 methane-fueled Raptor engines, lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas at 5:51 p.m. EDT. The launch was a spectacle for onlookers as it soared into the sky with 16 million pounds of thrust. This launch followed a previous attempt on July 16, which was aborted due to engine issues, and a weather-related delay. During this test flight, the booster performed well during its ascent and separation from the Starship upper stage. However, fewer engines restarted than planned during its descent, resulting in a “hard” splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. The booster is designed to return to its launch site for recovery, but for safety reasons, SpaceX opted for splashdowns during these initial flights. Meanwhile, the Starship upper stage continued its mission, deploying 20 Starlink satellites into space using a new payload dispenser. This test flight builds on lessons from previous launches and represents a step forward in SpaceX’s efforts to develop reusable rocket technology.
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SpaceX’s Super Heavy-Starship blasts off on 13th test flight
