Overview

• Launched from SpaceX’s Texas site, the Super Heavy booster separated cleanly and made a planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
• The upper stage spent roughly an hour in space, simulated satellite deployment, then executed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
• SpaceX described the outcome as an exciting milestone and indicated the vehicle was not expected to be recovered.
• Gwynne Shotwell said an upgraded Starship that could support human missions to the Moon and Mars may fly late this year or early next year.
• NASA relies on Starship for transporting astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface, with a first Starship lunar surface mission planned for 2027.