SpaceX launches Starship V3 for the first time, but loses booster on return

SpaceX has successfully launched its upgraded Starship V3 rocket for the first time, although the test included some challenges for Elon Musk's space exploration firm. The towering 407-foot rocket, the most powerful ever constructed, took off from SpaceX's Starbase in Texas at 5:30 p.m. local time. Shortly after liftoff, the upper stage of the ship separated from the Super Heavy booster and continued its journey into space. However, the booster, which was intended to return to Earth and perform a simulated landing in the Gulf of Mexico, encountered issues. Its engines failed to reignite properly for the necessary burn, causing it to tumble into the water, where it likely exploded. Meanwhile, Starship experienced a loss of one of its six Raptor engines during ascent but continued its mission toward the Indian Ocean. Notably, the spacecraft successfully deployed all 20 Starlink satellite simulators alongside two modified satellites designed to capture footage of Starship’s exterior. While the launch did not go entirely according to plan, it represented a significant test for SpaceX. This was the first major evaluation of the Starship V3 hardware, which has been under development for several months. Additionally, the company was trialing a new launchpad at Starbase that has been years in the making. This test launch coincides with a pivotal moment for SpaceX, as the company recently made its IPO filing public, aiming to list on the Nasdaq by mid-June. The IPO is projected to raise around $75 billion, which SpaceX plans to invest in further development, ambitious AI projects, and to address some of the debt linked to its xAI initiatives and Musk's social media venture, X. SpaceX has invested years and substantial resources into developing Starship, which it considers vital for its goal of enabling human life on multiple planets. The company intends to use Starship for NASA missions to the Moon and eventually Mars, while also focusing on deploying more advanced Starlink satellites into Earth's orbit, as Starlink is currently the only profitable segment of SpaceX's operations. This launch marked the first flight of Starship since October 2025. Although SpaceX had initially aimed to launch Starship V3 earlier, a previous booster explosion during testing in November delayed those plans. The latest version of Starship incorporates third-generation Raptor engines, designed for enhanced thrust and simplicity, enabling faster takeoffs and more efficient retrieval by the launch tower.