WATCH: SPACEX'S SUCCESSFUL TEST FLIGHT AND SPLASHDOWN FOR STARSHIP

SpaceX’s Starship, the company’s new megarelay rocket, completed a test flight on the morning of Thursday, launching from its Boca Chica launch site and emerging for a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean about an hour later, according to BBC News.

The launch, dubbed Flight 13, saw Starship carry a payload of next‑generation Starlink satellites into orbit before returning to the ocean in what Space.com described as the rocket’s "softest splashdown" ever. The landing occurred roughly 60 minutes after liftoff, confirming that the vehicle’s autonomous landing system can deliver a gentle descent and water impact without major damage. Deutsche Welle reported that this flight marks the first Starship test since the company went public, while Space.com noted that the launch was met with enthusiasm from the broader space community, describing it as a glimmer of the rocket’s long‑term ambitions.

Starship is a critical component of SpaceX’s plans to ferry astronauts, cargo, and satellites to Earth orbit and beyond; a successful splashdown demonstrates a key milestone in its development program and its potential for reusable launch services.

• Launch and splashdown completed within an hour of liftoff, confirming autonomous flight and landing accuracy.
• Vehicle carried next‑generation Starlink satellites, marking a dual-purpose demonstration.
• This test flight is the first Starship mission since SpaceX’s IPO, underscoring the company’s public‑market growth.

AI CONFIDENCE: HIGH • Built by DAMMNEWS AI from available BBC News reporting and related coverage. Read the original source for full detail.