SpaceX pulls off Starship rocket launch in much-needed comeback | BBC News

SpaceX performed a successful test flight of its Starship rocket, turning around a streak of earlier failures. The world's largest and most powerful rocket lifted off from Texas shortly after 18:30 local time (23:30 BST) and spent 60 minutes in flight. During the ascent, engine sections exploded at one stage, and flaps on the rocket's side ignited and swayed side‑to‑side. NASA plans to employ Starship for the Artemis program to send humans to the Moon by 2027. Following setbacks this year—including three failed Starship launches and a launch pad explosion in June—CEO Elon Musk celebrated the success.