SpaceX Starship Completes Successful Test Flight

SpaceX's sixth Starship test flight, attended by Donald Trump, successfully gathered data despite the booster being directed to a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico instead of returning to the launch pad. The spacecraft reached an altitude of nearly 200 kilometers and endured rigorous re-entry tests, although one maneuvering flap showed signs of burn-through. The company removed 1,200 heat-resistant tiles from the Starship for this flight to assess its vulnerability during re-entry, a move aimed at evaluating future recovery attempts. While the test was celebrated as progress, the booster did not meet all criteria for a catch, leading to its loss. SpaceX emphasized that the flight provided valuable insights for future missions, including engine reignition in space and thermal protection experiments. Future tests will continue to refine the Starship's capabilities with an eye towards reusability and reducing costs for lunar and Martian missions.