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SpaceX Starship completes test flight before fiery splashdown

SpaceX completed the 12th test flight of its Starship rocket on Friday, with the vehicle reaching the Indian Ocean before ending in a fiery splashdown after minor engine issues and other technical glitches.

The flight matters because Starship is central to SpaceX’s plans for larger satellite launches and future deep-space missions, and each test helps prove the system can survive extreme conditions.

  • Starbase is SpaceX’s private launch site in southern Texas, near the Gulf coast.
  • A controlled splashdown helps engineers recover data without needing a successful landing.
  • Fully reusable rockets are viewed as a major step toward cheaper, more frequent space access.