SpaceX’s Starship rocket launched Tuesday from its South Texas Starbase facility, according to Bloomberg. The rocket reached orbit, deployed satellites for the first time, and completed most of its return journey before breaking apart in the Indian Ocean. The mission marked a milestone for the world’s largest rocket after a year of fiery setbacks, including multiple explosions and failed satellite deployments. SpaceX emphasized the mission’s purpose was to stress-test Starship, noting visible damage during reentry. NASA awarded SpaceX about $4 billion in contracts for Starship to shuttle astronauts to the moon, with long-term plans to support missions to both the lunar surface and Mars.
