SpaceX launched its sixth Starship rocket for a global loop test, ending in an Indian Ocean splashdown.

SpaceX launched its sixth Starship rocket, but did not attempt to catch the booster with mechanical arms, instead directing it to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico due to unspecified reasons. The empty spacecraft completed a near loop around the world, ending in a controlled descent into the Indian Ocean. The test aimed to ignite one of the spacecraft's engines in space and conduct thermal protection experiments. SpaceX and NASA plan to use Starship for missions to the moon and Mars, with the goal of making the entire rocket reusable to reduce costs.

November 19, 2024
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