By Hana Nakatani
American company Space X launched the latest and the largest rocket “Starship” on the 22nd May. The launch was successful and if this launch becomes practical, it will more than quadruple the space transport capacity compared to the current main rocket, accelerating the company’s growth strategy.
The Starship rocket launched from Starbase, Texas, at 5:30 p.m. Central Time on May 22nd. This was the 12th Starship launch since October 2025, and the first test of the highly anticipated third-generation Starship. SpaceX is scheduled to have an initial public offering (IPO) in June. A successful launch could boost its valuation significantly.
The upper stage of the rocket orbited halfway around the Earth in one hour and splashed down in the Indian Ocean. The lower stage, called the “booster,” is designed for reuse, but was not recovered in this test.
The third-generation Starship has improved engine thrust compared to the second generation, increasing its transport capacity. It can place 100 tons of payload into low Earth orbit, more than four times the transport capacity of the current flagship rocket, the Falcon 9, which carries 22.8 tons.
Some of the major differences between Falcon 9 and the Starship is the scale and the concept behind it. Starship is a “fully reusable, super-large rocket” designed for transporting targets to the Moon and Mars, while the Falcon 9 is positioned as a “mainstay medium-sized rocket” for satellite launches and other missions.
| Falcon 9 | Starship | |
| Size | Height : 70mDiameter : 3.7m | Height : 120mDiameter : 9m |
| Maximum power of shipping | 22.8 ton | 100～150 ton |
| Reuse mechanism | Only the first stage is reused. Landing is done on a drone ship or similar vessel at sea using landing gear. | Both the first and second stages are fully reusable. The launch tower’s giant arm (Mechazilla) catches the projectile in mid-air. |
| Engine | 1D Marine engine (9 units) | Raptor (over 30 units) |
| Power source | Liquid oxygen + rocket kerosene | Liquid oxygen + liquid methane |
If Starship becomes operational, SpaceX will be able to send satellites for its Starlink satellite communication network into space at low cost. The plan is to utilise it in the construction of an artificial intelligence space data centre that is envisioned for the future.
The Starship will also be used as a lunar lander in the The Artemis program, a lunar exploration project led by NASA. Its early practical application is also expected amidst the ongoing US-China competition for lunar landings.