SpaceX launches its massive Starship rocket for the first time [Updated]
by Eric Berger from Ars Technica - All content on (#6AZRE)
Enlarge / SpaceX's Starship rocket is seen ahead of its integrated flight test. (credit: SpaceX)
10:30 am ET Update: After a short hold 40 seconds before its appointed launch time, SpaceX's massive Starship rocket slowly climbed from its launch pad on Thursday morning from South Texas. The first stage performed more or less nominally, although about 15 percent of its engines failed during a burn of more than two minutes.
The main problem occurred at stage separation, when the booster and Starship upper stage were lost in a fiery explosion.
So what to make of all this? Ars will have full coverage of the launch, and its import for the space industry, later today.