SpaceX successfully conducted a test flight of its Starship rocket this past Friday, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing development program. The mission, which lasted approximately one hour, concluded with the spacecraft splashing down into the Indian Ocean as intended. While the final descent resulted in an explosion, the event was part of the planned testing parameters for the vehicle.

The launch was executed one day later than originally scheduled, following a brief delay caused by a malfunctioning hydraulic pin located in the launch tower. Despite the technical hurdle, the mission proceeded to meet the majority of its primary flight objectives.

Engineers are currently reviewing data from the flight, which noted that both stages of the rocket experienced engine failures during the mission. This information will be critical for future iterations of the Starship program as the company continues to refine its heavy-lift launch capabilities.