SpaceX successfully tests Starship with soft landing in Indian Ocean

SpaceX successfully completed its sixth flight test of the Starship spacecraft on November 19, 2024. The uncrewed mission launched from Texas, achieving a suborbital trajectory before reentering over the Indian Ocean, with the Super Heavy booster safely splashing down. This test included new challenges, such as reduced protective shielding and pushing the spacecraft's flaps to their limits. SpaceX noted that the vehicle performed better than expected, highlighting the importance of testing under extreme conditions. Future plans include long-duration flight tests and propellant transfer demonstrations in 2025, which are crucial for NASA's Artemis III mission to return astronauts to the Moon.