Overview

• Starship lifted off from Starbase in Texas shortly after 6:30 p.m. local time following two earlier scrubs for ground-system issues and unfavorable weather.
• The upper stage splashed down in the Indian Ocean about an hour after launch, with SpaceX reporting that key objectives were achieved.
• The test included the first in-space payload demonstration for the vehicle, deploying eight simulated satellites, according to Associated Press reporting.
• The Super Heavy booster returned for a controlled splashdown in the Atlantic after performing a landing-burn sequence.
• The program faces continued skepticism and scrutiny given multiple past explosions and investigations, even as NASA plans to use modified Starships for Artemis lunar landings.