SpaceX launches 15th Starship flight with hopes of achieving first round trip

From SpaceX's base in Texas, the 15th Starship spacecraft soared into orbit on Friday, aiming to achieve a historic first round-trip mission. Company officials hope the uncrewed upper stage will return to the launch tower Saturday, marking a crucial test for Elon Musk's vision of a fully reusable rocket system. After nearly a day in orbit, the upper stage is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and make a controlled landing using massive robotic arms.

However, the accompanying Super Heavy booster exploded during its return flight, failing to return as planned. Despite this setback, SpaceX's mission controllers remain optimistic about the upper stage's successful landing. This mission, SpaceX's 15th test flight since 2023, also delivered 26 Starlink satellites to orbit, generating revenue for the satellite-connectivity business.

Musk envisions Starship as crucial for expanding the company's Starlink satellite network and deploying future AI data-processing centers. The launch comes with significant investment, with NASA funding around $3.2 billion and SpaceX contributing at least $15 billion.