Starship reaches orbit during 15th test flight
Tech Desk
SpaceX launched its Starship rocket from Starbase, Texas, on Friday, marking the vehicle's 15th test flight in over three years. The massive rocket departed as scheduled in the early evening, climbing into the sky while the Sun descended toward the western horizon.
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Conditions at the site were ideal for the launch, with calm atmospheric winds allowing the rocket’s white plume to remain visible for many minutes. While summers in South Texas are typically long and hot, the weather on Friday evening was perfect. This was the second occasion that SpaceX has successfully flown Starship into low-Earth orbit.
During the ascent, the first stage performed flawlessly before releasing the upper stage above the Gulf of Mexico. Following separation, the upper stage ignited its Raptor engines to power its way into a nominal orbit, setting up a possible catch on Saturday.
