SpaceX completed the twelfth test flight of its Starship rocket system on Friday. The spacecraft achieved a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean despite several technical issues during the mission. The launch occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. local time, testing the latest version of the world’s largest rocket. Company staff celebrated the outcome on the live broadcast even as images showed the vehicle surrounded by fire and smoke upon landing. SpaceX confirmed the splashdown on social media and noted that recovery of the booster or spacecraft had not been planned. The upper stage carried out a complex space maneuver, flipping upright and restarting engines for reentry, though one engine failed. It also released 22 mock satellites, two of which were meant to photograph the heat shield. The spacecraft missed its planned orbit after an early engine problem, yet remained within expected trajectory limits. The booster did not perform its intended return burn and fell into the Gulf of Mexico. An earlier launch attempt the previous day had been halted by a hydraulic issue that was later resolved. The current Starship design exceeds 407 feet in height. The test occurred as the company prepares for a possible public offering later this year. Starship continues to support NASA’s Artemis program for future lunar landings, with a target of returning astronauts to the Moon by 2028. A NASA official attended the event and expressed interest in future orbital cooperation. Experts continue to question whether the ambitious schedules can be met given ongoing technical hurdles.
