Watch the highlights of SpaceX's fourth test flight of Starship. What part of the flight do you think was the most successful? Why? Discuss with a partner for one minute.
Starship's Fourth Flight Test
This video shows the key milestones from Starship's successful fourth test flight, including the first-ever soft splashdowns of both the booster and the ship.
Video Transcript
Attention all flight crew members, this is the final go-no-go poll for operations. Raptor one, go. Raptor two, go. Stage one, go. Stage two, go. Flight director is go for launch. We have liftoff. [ 00:22 ]
The vehicle is pitching downrange. Max Q. Ship engine startup. Separation. Booster boost-back burn. 30 seconds to catch decision. Hot stage separation confirmed. [ 01:14 ]
The flight director is go for booster return. We are go for catch. The booster is coming in hot. Booster FTS is saved. Landing burn startup. We can see those chopsticks now. This is absolutely insane. On the first-ever attempt, we have successfully caught the Super Heavy booster. [ 02:27 ]
Mechazilla has caught the booster. Ship power is nominal. Starship will re-enter the atmosphere. Starship is approaching the peak heating phase of entry. Landing burn startup. Starship has landed. [ 03:08 ]
The Big Picture: Two Paths to Orbit
In 2024 and 2025, two major stories dominated space exploration news. Both involved private companies working with government agencies like NASA, but they followed very different paths.
One story is about SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built. Its main goal is to be fully reusable—meaning both parts of the rocket can fly again, saving millions of dollars. After several explosive tests, Starship achieved a major milestone on June 6, 2024. For the first time, both the booster and the upper stage survived re-entry and made a soft splashdown in the ocean. This process of testing, failing, learning, and improving is called rapid iteration.
SpaceX Starship
The fully stacked Starship rocket is the tallest and most powerful ever built.
The other story is about Boeing's Starliner. It was designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). In June 2024, it finally launched its first crewed mission. However, while it was docked at the ISS, engineers discovered problems with several of its thrusters—small engines used for steering. Due to these safety concerns, the mission was extended, and a decision was made to bring the two astronauts home on a different spacecraft.
These two events highlight the challenges and different strategies in modern spaceflight. One company is pushing the limits with a "move fast and break things" approach, while the other is taking a more cautious, traditional path that has faced significant delays and technical issues.
Boeing Starliner Launch
Starliner's first crewed mission lifted off on an Atlas V rocket.
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