SpaceX launched a powerful Starship for the third time into space

The rocket flew halfway around the world and accomplished new maneuvers but broke apart on re-entry

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, recently conducted the longest trial flight of its colossal Starship rocket, albeit encountering disintegration upon its return to Earth. The module met its demise during its descent towards the Indian Ocean. This marked the third test flight for Musk's company, with the Starship rocket completing a journey spanning half the circumference of the planet before re-entering the atmosphere. Approximately 45 minutes post-launch, Starship commenced its descent into Earth's atmosphere with a planned splashdown in the Indian Ocean. During its journey, it reached an altitude surpassing 200km (125 miles) as it traversed the Atlantic and South Africa.

Communication with Starship ceased around the 49-minute mark, with SpaceX confirming the rocket's failure to survive re-entry, likely resulting in disintegration and descent into the ocean. Nevertheless, this flight accomplished feats that previous Super Heavy boosters hadn't managed. Despite two previous attempts resulting in midair destruction, SpaceX's progress towards its objectives remains remarkable, according to experts. Through reusability, SpaceX aims to reduce the costs associated with satellite launches and human space travel, leveraging each flight test to gather essential data for the continuous enhancement of Starship. Lisa Watson-Morgan, program manager for NASA's Human Landing System project, highlighted the collaborative efforts between NASA and SpaceX in advancing Starship's development for future missions.