Starship launch - as it happened: Lift off for world’s biggest rocket in huge test for Mars-bound craft
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SpaceX has successfully launched its Starship rocket in a huge test of Elon Musk’s ambitions to send humans to Mars.
The third test flight of the world’s biggest rocket saw it lift off from a launchpad at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday morning.
Two previous attempts to fly the uncrewed rocket from Texas to Hawaii both ended in high-altitude explosions. The third launch will see a different route attempted, with a splashdown site in the Indian Ocean.
“Each of these flight tests continue to be just that: a test,” SpaceX said ahead of the Starship launch attempt. “They aren’t occurring in a lab or on a test stand, but are putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximise learning.”
You can follow all the latest news, analysis and updates - as well as watch a live stream of the Starship launch - in our live coverage below.
Starship launch live: SpaceX staff cheer ‘phenomenal’ flight test
If you’re just joining us, you can watch a replay of the lift off right here:
You can hear the SpaceX staff cheering in the background. It’s an impressive sight, with SpaceX’s live stream commentator describing it as a “phenomenal test”.
Starship launch live: SpaceX
Starship is ticking off objectives as it coasts around the planet. The latest is the opening of a hatch that will one day be used to deliver satellites into orbit.
It’ll be another 40 minutes or so before we see any major action from the rocket, with T+50 minutes the scheduled time for reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Starship launch live: T+ 10 minutes
“We’re farther than we’ve ever been before,” a SpaceX commentator says on the live stream.
“We did lose the booster... but wow, a ship in space. We’ve got a bunch of ambitious objectives over the next hour. We’re going to try and learn as much as possible.”
Starship launch live: T+ 8 minutes
The Super Heavy booster appears to have been lost, shortly after it was meant to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico.
The upper stage is still continuing on its planned flight path.
Starship launch live: Hot stage separation successful
Starship has successfully separated from the Super Heavy booster, which was the point the test flight failed on the first attempt.
The second stage is continuing to follow its flight plan, and has made it further than the second attempt, which failed shortly after a successful stage separation.
SpaceX says this third test has been a “phenomenal test so far”.
Starship launch live: SpaceX launches world’s biggest rocket!
We have lift off!
Starship launch live: T-minus 1 minute
It looks like winds aren’t going to prevent the launch today. SpaceX says they’re “cooperating”.
The countdown is less than 1 minute.
Starship launch live: T-minus 10 minutes
We’re hopefully entering the final stages of the countdown, as the clock passes 10 minutes.
It’s a lot lighter out there than it was an hour ago, when Starship was originally scheduled to launch. That means we’ll hopefully get a better view of the launch, so long as the fog doesn’t get in the way too much.
Speaking of views, this camera at the top of Starship shows just how tall it is. Measuring 120 metres, it’s 24 metres taller than Big Ben’s tower in London.
Starship launch live: Raptor engines on view
We just got a glimpse of the 33 Raptor engines that will boost Starship off the launchpad. It’s an impressive sight, demonstrating the enormous thrust potential of the world’s most powerful rocket.
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