What is the story about?
SpaceX successfully concluded its mission of launching the massive Starship spacecraft with a fiery splashdown in the Indian Ocean on Saturday. In a video circulating online, the spacecraft was seen descending with a fiery explosion, which the company said was "planned".
The mission showcased major upgrades to the rocket system, which was lifted off shortly after 5:30 pm (local time) on Friday. While the mission encountered a few technical issues, SpaceX employees erupted in celebration during the livestream as the mission neared its end.
“Splashdown confirmed!" the company posted on X after the mission concluded. The monumental flight was primarily aimed at redesigns introduced in the latest version of Starship. During the mission, the third-generation spacecraft manoeuvred to flip upright and reignite its engines for control, despite one engine failing during flight.
Apart from this, Starship also deployed 22 mock satellites, including two that were designed to capture images of the spacecraft's heat shield for further analysis. However, the spacecraft did not achieve its intended orbit after one of its engines malfunctioned during the initial burn phase.
“I wouldn’t call it nominal orbital insertion," company spokesperson Dan Huot said, while adding that it was “within bounds" of a previously analysed trajectory. After separating from the upper stage, the Super Heavy booster failed to complete its boost-back burn and eventually plunged into the
Gulf of Mexico.
It is pertinent to note that SpaceX had not planned to recover the booster. However, the company had aimed for a more precise return. Meanwhile, SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk lauded the mission on X, calling the whole operation "epic". “You scored a goal for humanity," he said.
It is important to note that Friday's mission came a day after an earlier launch attempt was aborted because of a technical issue. Musk eventually explained on X that “the hydraulic pin holding the tower arm in place did not retract," adding that the problem was fixed overnight.
The latest test marked Starship’s 12th flight overall and its first in seven months. The upgraded version stands more than 407 feet (124 metres) tall when fully stacked, making it larger than previous models. The mission is also important for Nasa, which has contracted SpaceX to develop a modified version of Starship for its Artemis lunar programme aimed at returning humans to the Moon.
Ahead of the launch, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman appeared on SpaceX’s pre-launch programme and delivered an optimistic speech: "We’re looking forward to seeing this fly, because hopefully at some point in the not-too-distant future we’re going to join up in Earth orbit."
After the mission, Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on X for “a hell of a V3 Starship launch." “One step closer to the Moon…one step closer to Mars," he furthered.
The mission showcased major upgrades to the rocket system, which was lifted off shortly after 5:30 pm (local time) on Friday. While the mission encountered a few technical issues, SpaceX employees erupted in celebration during the livestream as the mission neared its end.
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on the twelfth flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/XXBAtryPpL
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 22, 2026
“Splashdown confirmed!" the company posted on X after the mission concluded. The monumental flight was primarily aimed at redesigns introduced in the latest version of Starship. During the mission, the third-generation spacecraft manoeuvred to flip upright and reignite its engines for control, despite one engine failing during flight.
What the mission entailed
Apart from this, Starship also deployed 22 mock satellites, including two that were designed to capture images of the spacecraft's heat shield for further analysis. However, the spacecraft did not achieve its intended orbit after one of its engines malfunctioned during the initial burn phase.
“I wouldn’t call it nominal orbital insertion," company spokesperson Dan Huot said, while adding that it was “within bounds" of a previously analysed trajectory. After separating from the upper stage, the Super Heavy booster failed to complete its boost-back burn and eventually plunged into the
It is pertinent to note that SpaceX had not planned to recover the booster. However, the company had aimed for a more precise return. Meanwhile, SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk lauded the mission on X, calling the whole operation "epic". “You scored a goal for humanity," he said.
It is important to note that Friday's mission came a day after an earlier launch attempt was aborted because of a technical issue. Musk eventually explained on X that “the hydraulic pin holding the tower arm in place did not retract," adding that the problem was fixed overnight.
The latest test marked Starship’s 12th flight overall and its first in seven months. The upgraded version stands more than 407 feet (124 metres) tall when fully stacked, making it larger than previous models. The mission is also important for Nasa, which has contracted SpaceX to develop a modified version of Starship for its Artemis lunar programme aimed at returning humans to the Moon.
Ahead of the launch, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman appeared on SpaceX’s pre-launch programme and delivered an optimistic speech: "We’re looking forward to seeing this fly, because hopefully at some point in the not-too-distant future we’re going to join up in Earth orbit."
After the mission, Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on X for “a hell of a V3 Starship launch." “One step closer to the Moon…one step closer to Mars," he furthered.
