The third test launch of SpaceX’s Starship took off successfully

SpaceX was hoping the third time would be the charm as it attempted another test of its Starship rocket. This third launch went really well, with Starship successfully launching at 9:25am ET. Shortly after launch, it successfully completed hot level separation from the Super Heavy Booster and the Starship successfully ignited the Raptor second stage engines. It is currently coasting, and the Raptor’s engines are scheduled to be re-ignited about 40 minutes after the initial liftoff. Meanwhile, the Super Heavy Booster went into a semi-controlled descent; its engines did not fully ignite as planned before the crash. We should hear more about what worked and what didn’t in this testing phase once it’s all over.

Although SpaceX said that both the booster and the Starship itself would return to Earth at “terminal velocity,” thus making it impossible to recover them, it appears that the Starship itself failed to land. Based on initial data, it appears that the Starship broke up during re-entry. As with the booster, we should learn more about the specifics behind the ship’s ultimate fate soon.

Before parting ways, however, we got to see some dramatic footage of the Starship’s initial re-entry:

The previous two attempts ended in failure, although the Starship reached space on the second round. 110-minute launch window for the final attempt opens at 8 a.m. ET. A live stream coverage of the launch began around 8:50 a.m. ET and you can follow him here on X.

Federal aviation authorities cleared SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Orbital Flight Test 3 on Wednesday afternoon. The agency said in a statement to Engadget that Space X “met all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements.”

The FAA grounded Starship for several weeks before the second test flight while the company took 63 “corrective actions.” The first launch caused a fire in a state park and led to a lawsuit by environmental groups.

Along with building on previous tests, there are a number of “ambitious” goals SpaceX had in mind for this launch. The company aimed to perform the first relight of a Raptor engine in space, along with ensuring a successful ascent burn on both stages, opening and closing the payload door, and conducting a controlled reentry. The spacecraft flew on a new trajectory and fell into the Indian Ocean. SpaceX said the updated flight path allows it to try new things like engine burnouts in space while prioritizing public safety.