SpaceX on Friday completed the 12th test flight of its Starship, the largest rocket system ever built.
The test, debuting a new prototype dubed Starship V3, went largely as planned, despite some engine failures.
Starship launched from the company's spaceport in Texas, flew for just over an hour, and then splashed down in the Indian Ocean.
The first stage of the rocket landed in the sea near the launch site. The deployment of satellites was also simulated during the flight. However, because engines on both stages failed for reasons initially unknown, the test didn't go entirely as planned.
Friday's test flight marked the first use of Starship V3, a version of the giant rocket that, according to the company, has been completely redesigned, particularly in terms of its design and performance.
US space agency NASA hopes to use Starship to send astronauts to the moon, while billionaire company founder Elon Musk's stated goal is for humans to reach Mars.
The Starship rocket system consists of two parts that separate after the launch: the about 70-metre-long Super Heavy booster and the upper stage, also called Starship, which measures around 50 metres.
The system has been developed so that both the spacecraft and the booster can be reused after returning to Earth.
The system was first tested in April 2023, when it exploded after a few minutes. Later tests saw the upper stage reach space and land under control in the Indian Ocean. However, several recent test flights fell well short of expectations.
SpaceX looking to raise fresh capital on the stock market
SpaceX, which on Wednesday posted billions of dollars in losses, is looking to go public this year.
Media reports have said SpaceX is seeking a valuation of around $2 trillion in the offering. With expected proceeds of up to $80 billion, the flotation would be by far the largest initial public offering on record. The IPO is reportedly targeted for mid-June after SpaceX initially filed confidentially without disclosing financial data.
The prerequisite for this is likely that investors, despite ongoing losses, believe in Musk's bold visions: These include a settlement on Mars, a city on the moon, and AI data centres in space.
