Launch Sequence and Initial Performance
SpaceX launched the first test flight of its upgraded Starship rocket and Super Heavy booster Friday, with mostly positive results. The powerful rocket, propelled by 33 methane-fueled main engines, climbed away from SpaceX's Starbase launch facility in South Texas at 5:30 pm CDT. Within a few seconds, the 408-foot-tall rocket, the largest ever built, cleared the launch tower and turned onto an eastward heading over the Gulf of Mexico.
Flight Outcome and Version Comparisons
Starship splashed down on target in the Indian Ocean a little more than an hour later to conclude the first flight of the latest version of SpaceX's stainless steel mega-rocket. Starship V3 fared better on its debut than the first flights of Starship V1 and V2 in 2023 and 2025. Both past versions of Starship broke apart during launch on their inaugural flights. The upgraded design demonstrated improved stability and control throughout the mission profile, marking a clear step forward in the development program.
