SpaceX has completed a major test of its Starship system, which CEO Elon Musk calls “the most powerful object ever made.”
At its Starbase site in southern Texas, the company conducted a static fire of the Super Heavy booster, igniting all 33 engines while the rocket remained secured to the launchpad. This followed a similar test of the upper stage just a day earlier, marking a key step ahead of a planned flight in the coming weeks.
Fully assembled, Starship stands about 124 meters tall and is designed to carry over 100 tons into low Earth orbit. The system is central to NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. SpaceX is developing the lunar landing system alongside Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos.
NASA recently completed a lunar flyby mission, sending astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. However, a crewed Moon landing—currently targeted for the Artemis IV mission in 2028—depends heavily on Starship’s readiness.
Delays in developing the Human Landing System have already pushed back NASA’s timeline, with earlier targets slipping from 2025. Safety officials have also flagged ongoing technical challenges, noting that upcoming Starship launches will be critical in determining whether the system can safely carry astronauts before the end of the decade.
The delays have raised broader concerns about competition, with former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine warning that the US risks falling behind China in the renewed race to the Moon.