Image: SpaceX via AP Photo

SpaceX has achieved a significant milestone in its Starship program with a successful fourth flight test. The massive spacecraft completed a crucial re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere before making a splashdown landing in the Indian Ocean.

This mission, which launched from Starbase, Texas on June 6th, aimed to demonstrate the reusability of both the Starship vehicle and the Super Heavy booster. Following liftoff, the Super Heavy separated and performed a controlled descent to a planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Meanwhile, Starship continued its journey for about an hour before initiating re-entry approximately 45 minutes into the flight. Viewers watching the live feed experienced a tense few minutes as one of Starship’s flaps began to burn off at an altitude of around 33 miles. The onboard camera subsequently cracked, leaving only glimpses of plasma light visible.

Despite these dramatic moments, Starship remained operational and transmitted data throughout re-entry, culminating in a successful landing burn. Shortly before 10:00 AM ET, SpaceX confirmed the splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

This test represents a major triumph for SpaceX. The successful re-entry and landing of Starship mark a critical step forward in developing a fully functional transportation system capable of carrying humans to the Moon and Mars.