This footage was filmed and produced 16 March 2024.

The video shows the launch of SpaceX's starship from 5 kilometers away from the launch center in Texas. The live webcast of the flight showed the booster separating seamlessly from the spaceship and splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico minutes after launch.

In a major milestone for SpaceX, the company's Starship mega-rocket successfully completed most of its intended test flight trajectory on Thursday, March 14. The launch, which took place from Texas, marked the third test flight for the spacecraft.

However, during the atmospheric re-entry phase of the flight, mission control lost communication with the spacecraft. Despite the setback, the spacecraft was able to cruise halfway around the globe for about an hour before communication was cut off.

SpaceX confirmed that the spacecraft had been lost, with speculation that it may have burned up, come apart during re-entry, or crashed into the sea. Nevertheless, the successful completion of most of the test flight trajectory represents a significant step in the development of the spacecraft.

Starship is considered crucial to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's satellite launch business and NASA's moon program. The spacecraft's ability to carry cargo and potentially humans to space is seen as a key component in the future of space exploration.

While the loss of communication during the re-entry phase is a setback, SpaceX will likely use the data gathered from the test flight to make improvements and continue the development of Starship. Despite the challenges, the successful completion of most of the test flight trajectory is a promising sign for the future of the spacecraft and its role in the space industry.