SpaceX Completes First Starship Test Flight Since Going Public

SpaceX flew its Starship vehicle on another test flight, its first since the company went public in June. Deutsche Welle reported that the rocket completed its 13th test flight and splashed down in the Indian Ocean. It was the first Starship mission conducted while SpaceX has public shareholders.

The flight deployed what The Hindu described as the most advanced Starlink satellites to date, part of the satellite-internet network that generates much of the company's recurring revenue. The Japanese outlet Jiji Press reported the mission as a new satellite deployment and the first flight test after the listing.

The distinction matters. Before the initial public offering (IPO), the risk of a failed test rested with a closely held private company and its venture backers. Now every flight, successful or not, affects public investors who bought into one of the most highly valued listings in the recent wave of technology offerings.