SpaceX Mars Exploration Rocket Achieves First Ground Landing Success... Previously Exploded 4 Times

Starship SN15 Rocket Successfully Lands After Test Launch
"A Historic Moment in Space Exploration"... Increased Possibility of Mars Mission in 2026

On the 5th (local time), SpaceX's Mars exploration rocket, 'Starship SN15,' successfully landed for the first time after a test launch at SpaceX's launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, USA. Previously, SpaceX conducted four identical test launches since December last year, but all four rockets exploded during landing, resulting in failure. Boca Chica, USA ? Reuters·Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] SpaceX's Mars exploration spacecraft 'Starship SN15' rocket has successfully completed its first high-altitude test launch and landing. Previously, the rocket exploded during landing in all four test launches since December last year. This successful test launch and landing is considered a significant milestone for SpaceX's Mars exploration plan, set to begin in 2026.

According to foreign media including CNBC on the 5th (local time), SpaceX announced that the latest prototype of its manned Mars exploration spacecraft, the Starship SN15 rocket, successfully completed a high-altitude test launch and landing. On that day, SpaceX launched the SN15 rocket from its launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, USA, and the rocket took off to an altitude of 10 km before successfully landing.

This is the first time a Starship prototype rocket has successfully landed on the ground. Previously, since December last year, SpaceX consecutively launched prototypes SN8, SN9, SN10, and SN11, but all four attempts failed as the rockets exploded during landing. The Starship prototype is approximately 45 meters tall, equivalent to a 15-story building, and is powered by three Raptor engines.

Immediately after the successful launch, SpaceX released a statement calling it a "historic moment enabling future manned space exploration" and expressed pride in the achievements of their team over the past few weeks. With this successful launch, significant progress is expected in SpaceX's Mars exploration plan scheduled for 2026. SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk previously stated that he plans to send a Starship carrying 100 passengers to Mars in 2026 and confidently predicted that humanity will complete Mars colonization by 2050.