For the first time since it began testing flights last year, SpaceX's Starship

the biggest and most potent spacecraft ever launched into orbit

successfully landed in the Indian Ocean on Thursday after completing its fourth test flight.

The first three rocket testing resulted in explosions

The unmanned vehicle, which is categorized as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle

is aiming to transport humans between Earth, the moon, and even Mars in the long run.

NASA, which granted SpaceX a $2.9 billion contract in 2021 to create

the first commercial human lander for its Artemis III mission to the moon scheduled for 2026, is pleased with Thursday's successful test.

The results of the Starship's four test launches thus far show how

SpaceX has improved steadily from the test's first launch in April 2023.

On June 6, 2024, on its fourth test flight, Starship successfully completes its first-ever landing burn.