SpaceX successfully launches Starship Super Heavy on ninth test flight

SpaceX has successfully launched its Starship Super Heavy rocket on its ninth test flight from its facility near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas, early this morning. The ninth uncrewed test launch flew farther than the last two attempts that ended in explosive failure. The much-anticipated liftoff took place at 5:00 am IST. It marks a critical milestone in SpaceX’s mission to develop a fully reusable heavy-lift



rocket system with the capacity to carry humans to the Moon and Mars.

The booster performed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, foregoing the ambitious “catch” attempt by the launch tower’s robotic arms. The flight also included several in-flight experiments crucial for validating the system’s reusability and robustness.