SpaceX Conducts 15th Starship Test Focusing on Full Reusability

SpaceX conducted the 15th test flight of the Starship rocket from its Texas base this Friday. The launch marked an ambitious attempt to recover both stages of the aircraft directly at the launch tower.

The system consists of the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft. During the procedure, the booster was aborted and directed to the sea after an unexpected deviation. The cause of the change in the component's trajectory has not yet been clarified by the company.

The spacecraft continued its journey and is expected to complete about 14 orbits around the Earth over a 22-hour period. The final goal is the safe return of the structure to be captured by the mechanical arms at the launch site.

The success of Starship is essential for plans to transport cargo and people to the Moon and Mars. The rocket's capacity allows it to carry up to 60 Starlink v3 satellites per mission, which is 20 times the volume transported by Falcon 9 models.

Aerospace industry analysts point to the fact that SpaceX maintains a significant technological advantage over its competitors. Even with occasional failures, the continuity of the tests reinforces the company's strategy for expanding its orbital infrastructure.