After two failures, SpaceX successfully launched its rocket for the third time from its launch site in Texas on Thursday. Though the first part of the journey was successful, it failed during the atmospheric re-entry.
The company confirmed that it had lost connection with the spacecraft as it neared its goal, a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, an hour after the liftoff.
Watch Starship’s third flight test → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK https://t.co/1u46r769Vp
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 14, 2024
Last year two test flights were launched and it exploded minutes after liftoff.
Earlier during the flight, SpaceX's Elon Musk had congratulated his team. SpaceX has come a long way, Musk wrote on X.
"Starship reached orbital velocity! Congratulations SpaceX team!!" he said on X.
The rocket and futuristic-looking spacecraft towers 397 feet (121 meters), easily exceeding NASA's past and present moon rockets.
Meanwhile, NASA is closely watching Starship's mission. SpaceX, however, will first have to show it can produce a safe and reliable vehicle before astronauts are permitted to climb aboard.
