Overview

• SpaceX launched from Starbase after two short postponements for ground systems and weather, reaching roughly 190–192 kilometers in a flight of about 66 minutes.
• The vehicle deployed eight simulated Starlink payloads, marking Starship’s first in‑space payload demonstration.
• Super Heavy returned toward the Texas Gulf Coast and splashed down as planned after a landing‑burn sequence that intentionally shut off one of three descent engines and compensated with a backup.
• The upper stage re‑ignited a Raptor in space, endured expected reentry heating that abraded exterior hardware, and executed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
• The FAA had closed its Flight 9 investigation and authorized this launch, while SpaceX highlighted hardware and process changes such as larger grid fins, lower composite‑tank pressures, protective covers, and new nondestructive inspections.