Self-proclaimed "First Buddy" Elon Musk gestures while discussing the sixth Starship test launch with President-elect Donald Trump at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. To the right of Trump is Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force.
Elon Musk gestures while discussing the sixth Starship test launch with President-elect Donald Trump at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. To the right of Trump is Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force. Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

On Nov. 19, SpaceX launched its Starship vehicle on its sixth test flight. While the flight showcased key technical advancements, such as a successful engine relight on the Starship upper stage, it also highlighted the challenges of reusability, with the Super Heavy booster failing to land back at the launch tower.

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Jeff Foust writes about space policy, commercial space, and related topics for SpaceNews. He earned a Ph.D. in planetary sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree with honors in geophysics and planetary science...