Launch vehicle with prototype of Starship made its sixth test flight

By Alimat Aliyeva

The American company SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, launched a rocket carrying a prototype of the Starship spacecraft on Tuesday as part of its sixth test orbital flight.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attended the launch alongside Musk for the first time. Before the launch, the head of SpaceX briefed the politician on the technical features of the Starship.

The launch took place from the launch pad at the Boca Chica spaceport in Texas. The Starship, consisting of two stages—the upper stage and the Super Heavy booster—will test key technical improvements, including the re-ignition of the Raptor engine in space, the heat shield, and modifications for a controlled descent into the Indian Ocean.

After consuming most of its fuel and separating from the Starship spacecraft, the Super Heavy booster changed course and began its return to the launch pad. The booster was expected to land at the Starbase facility, which Musk has nicknamed "Mechazilla."

However, the test flight team determined that conditions were unfavorable, and the booster ultimately landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast, about seven minutes after launch.

SpaceX is developing the Starship spacecraft prototype, which is planned for use in manned missions to Mars. According to Elon Musk, Starship could reach Mars without a crew within two years. Musk's ultimate goal is to establish a self-sustaining city on Mars within the next 20 years.