SpaceX's Starship conducted a new test flight from its facilities in Boca Chica, Texas. The launch window opened at 5:30 PM (23:30 GMT). This follows a previous test on January 16 that resulted in the disintegration of the upper part of a Starship over the Turks and Caicos Islands. The FAA had suspended launches following the incident but lifted the suspension before completing its investigation.
The current mission includes an attempt to land the lower part of the Starship using the launch tower's arms. The goal is to eventually recover the upper stage of the rocket as well, with plans to land it off the west coast of Australia. SpaceX aims to demonstrate the rocket's flightworthiness and safety for future crewed missions and to develop in-space refueling capabilities for long-distance travel.