Post by Odysseus on Jun 8, 2024 21:06:23 GMT
Elon Musk's mammoth new rocket system has returned to Earth in a groundbreaking fourth test flight that culminated in a first-ever soft ocean landing for the Starship vehicle.
The aim was to get the rocket's upper section - the Ship - to make a controlled return into the atmosphere and then to ditch in the Indian Ocean.
And it achieved its objective, descending broadly intact all the way to the sea surface. Video from the vehicle indicated it was falling apart at the end, but still operating.
"Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting fourth flight test of Starship!" the company said on X. ...
The aim was to get the rocket's upper section - the Ship - to make a controlled return into the atmosphere and then to ditch in the Indian Ocean.
And it achieved its objective, descending broadly intact all the way to the sea surface. Video from the vehicle indicated it was falling apart at the end, but still operating.
"Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting fourth flight test of Starship!" the company said on X. ...