TRENDING — Starship V3 explodes after orbital test flight ahead of SpaceX IPO
SpaceX’s latest Starship V3 megarocket exploded upon splashdown in the Indian Ocean today after completing a largely successful test flight, marking a critical milestone just days before the company’s historic IPO. The 12th test of the Mars-bound rocket launched from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, at 8:25 a.m. local time, carrying 20 mock Starlink satellites that were deployed mid-flight during its hour-long, half-global trajectory.
While the spacecraft suffered engine anomalies during ascent, it achieved its primary objective—reaching orbital velocity—before disintegrating in a fireball upon impact with the ocean. SpaceX confirmed the explosion was not unexpected, framing the test as a step toward refining the vehicle’s re-entry and landing capabilities. The upgraded Starship V3, standing 150 meters tall and generating 7,500 tons of thrust, is the most powerful rocket ever flown, surpassing even NASA’s Saturn V.
The test carries dual significance: NASA has contracted a modified Starship variant to land astronauts on the moon as early as 2028 under the Artemis program, while SpaceX’s impending IPO—expected to value the company at over $200 billion—hinges on demonstrating technological progress. Analysts note the timing, with the launch occurring just 48 hours after Elon Musk announced plans to take SpaceX public, underscores the rocket’s role as a centerpiece of the company’s valuation.
European space officials, meanwhile, view the test as a wake-up call. German media reports highlight the flight’s success as evidence of SpaceX’s widening lead in commercial spaceflight, urging the EU to accelerate its own sovereign launch capabilities to avoid dependency on U.S. providers.
Today’s flight follows a series of iterative tests, with SpaceX adopting a rapid, failure-tolerant development approach. The next Starship prototype is already under construction, with Musk targeting a fully reusable system capable of ferrying 100 metric tons to Mars.
> Background: **SpaceXs Starship V3 achieves orbital flight in debut test ahead of IPO** — *9 hours ago*
Articles
SpaceX rocket explodes in the Indian Ocean after splashdown It is the 12th test flight of the rocket that Musk is building to transport people to Mars.
thejournal · 5 days ago
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theguardian · 5 days ago
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thejournal · 5 days ago
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news.yahoo.com · 6 days ago
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news.yahoo.com · 6 days ago
SpaceX launches its biggest rocket yet in test flight from Texas The launch is the 12th test flight of the mega-rocket that CEO Elon Musk is building to get people to Mars one daySpaceX launched its biggest, most powerful Starship yet on a test flight Friday, an upgraded version that Nasa is counting on to land astronauts on the moon.The redesigned mega-rocket made its debut two days after SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced hes taking the company public. It blasted off from the southern tip of Texas, carrying 20 mock Starlink satellites for release halfway around the world. Continue reading...
theguardian · 6 days ago