SpaceX's Starship Completes Test Flight with Ocean Landing
The sixth test flight of SpaceX's Starship rocket ended with a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean after an aborted booster catch attempt.
- SpaceX launched its sixth Starship test flight from Boca Chica, Texas, with the booster landing in the Gulf of Mexico instead of being caught by mechanical arms.
- The test flight included successful ignition of a Raptor engine in space, a critical step for future orbital returns.
- The Starship spacecraft completed a near-global loop before safely splashing down in the Indian Ocean.
- President-elect Donald Trump attended the launch, highlighting his growing association with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
- A banana was humorously included as a payload, serving as a zero-gravity indicator and part of a regulatory process demonstration.