SpaceX's Starship megarocket makes the 'softest splashdown' ever after launching next-gen Starlink satellites in Flight 13 test (video)

SpaceX launched Starship, the world's most powerful rocket, on a critical 13th test flight on July 24, a stunning test flight that notched big success and ended with a huge surprise.

The top 3

  1. World's Highest Payload Capacity: Starship is designed to carry over 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit in a fully reusable configuration, with potential for over 200 metric tons in an expendable mode, significantly exceeding rockets like the Saturn V (140 metric tons) and NASA's SLS (95 metric tons).
  2. Ambitious Goal of Full Reusability: Starship is designed to be a fully reusable two-stage system, with both its Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage engineered to return to the launch site for rapid turnaround and re-flight, aiming to significantly reduce launch costs.
  3. Integral to Lunar and Martian Exploration: Starship is a critical component of NASA's Artemis program, selected as the lunar lander for human missions to the Moon, and is designed to transport crew and cargo for future deep-space exploration, including establishing cities on Mars, which will require in-orbit refueling.

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