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SpaceX's Starship mega rocket blasts off on its most complex test flight yet

SpaceX's Starship, the world's most powerful rocket, successfully launched from its Starbase facility in Texas on its fourth test flight, marking a significant step in its development. This test was the most complex to date, involving a successful ascent burn of all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster, followed by a hot-staging separation where the Starship upper stage ignited its engines while still attached to the booster. The Super Heavy booster then performed a flip maneuver and attempted a controlled descent into the Gulf of Mexico, although it did not achieve a soft landing. Meanwhile, the Starship upper stage continued its journey, aiming for a reentry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean, with the test focusing on reentry heating and the functionality of the payload door. This flight was crucial for gathering data to refine the spacecraft's design for future missions, including NASA's Artemis program and potential Mars exploration.

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[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/spacex-s-starship-mega-rocket-blasts-off-on-its-most-complex-test-flight-yet/ar-AA1xkKsK ]