SpaceX’s Second-Gen Starship Signs Off With a Near-Perfect Test Flight

SpaceX successfully completed the final test flight of its second-generation Starship (V2) rocket, marking a significant milestone before transitioning to the next iteration, Version 3, expected next year. The 404-foot-tall stainless steel rocket launched from South Texas, powered by 33 methane-fueled Raptor engines generating 16.7 million pounds of thrust, and followed its flight plan nearly flawlessly. This 11th full-scale Starship test flight was arguably the most successful to date, achieving all mission objectives, including a precise splashdown attempt of the reused Super Heavy booster in the Gulf of Mexico. Although one engine on the booster failed during descent, it did not affect the overall success of the flight. The flight also demonstrated improvements in Starship’s heat shield technology, notably the expanded use of a “crunch wrap” material designed to seal gaps between ceramic tiles and protect the rocket’s stainless steel skin from superheated plasma during reentry. This innovation appeared effective based on initial observations