SpaceX answers critics with successful Starship test flight

South Padre Island, United States: SpaceX s Starship megarocket roared into the skies Tuesday on its tenth test flight, turning in a strong performanc...

South Padre Island, United States: SpaceX's Starship megarocket roared into the skies Tuesday on its tenth test flight, turning in a strong performance after a series of fiery failures had begun to cast doubt on its future.

Towering 403 feet (123 meters), Starship is the most powerful launch vehicle ever built and key to founder Elon Musk's vision of carrying humanity to Mars, as well as NASA's plans to return astronauts to the Moon.

The stainless steel colossus blasted off from the company's Starbase in southern Texas at 6:30 pm local time (2330 GMT), greeted by loud cheers from engineering teams, as seen in a live webcast.

A few minutes into launch, the first-stage booster known as Super Heavy splashed down into the Gulf of Mexico, triggering a sonic boom on its way. Unlike other recent tests, SpaceX opted not to attempt a catch with the giant "chop stick" arms of the launch tower, instead testing how it would perform if an engine cut out.

Attention then shifted to the upper stage -- also known individually as Starship and intended to one day carry crew and cargo -- to demonstrate its capabilities as it soared into space.