交作业

SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful launch vehicle ever built (1.  on) Thursday and achieved key objectives laid (2.  out) for its fourth test flight that demonstrated the vehicle’s reusability. The highly (3.   anticipated ) event was the company’s second uncrewed test of 2024.

Launch occurred from the private Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, at 7:50 a.m. CT (8:50 a.m. ET), and the company streamed live (4.   vedio  ) on X,   (5.  formerly ) known as Twitter, drawing millions of viewers.

The Starship launch system includes the upper Starship spacecraft and a rocket booster known as the Super Heavy. Of the rocket’s 33 engines, 32 lit during launch, according to the SpaceX broadcast.

 

The SpaceX Starship launches during its fourth flight test with goals focused on “demonstrating the ability to return and reuse Starship and Super Heavy," the company said.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The vehicle soared through multiple milestones during Thursday’s test flight, including the survival of the Starship capsule upon reentry during peak heating in Earth’s atmosphere and splashdown of both the capsule and booster.

After separating from the spacecraft, the Super Heavy booster for the first time successfully executed a landing burn and had a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico about eight minutes after launch.