SpaceX's latest Starship test flight achieved some of its major objectives after successfully deploying 26 satellites into orbit. However, the mission ended with a setback when the Super Heavy booster failed to return to its launch site and exploded over the Gulf of Mexico.

The rocket lifted off from SpaceX's launch facility in Texas on Friday, US time, as part of the company's ongoing efforts to develop its Starship launch system. The mission demonstrated progress in the spacecraft's ability to reach orbit and deploy satellites, although the planned recovery of the lower rocket stage was unsuccessful.

One of the key objectives was to bring the Super Heavy booster back to the launch tower after separation. SpaceX intended to catch the returning booster using the launch tower's recovery system, an important part of its reusable rocket technology.

However, the booster encountered a technical problem during its return sequence. Instead of making a controlled landing at the launch facility, it exploded and fell into the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, SpaceX could not complete the planned booster recovery operation.

Despite the setback, the mission achieved an important milestone with the successful deployment of 26 satellites into orbit. The achievement highlighted the progress made by SpaceX in testing its next-generation rocket system, even though the recovery attempt did not go according to plan.

Meanwhile, the Starship spacecraft, which forms the upper section of the rocket, continued its journey in space following the booster separation. According to the mission plan, the spacecraft is expected to complete 14 orbits around Earth before returning to the planet.

The planned flight duration is approximately 22.5 hours from liftoff. Its return will be another important part of the test flight, as SpaceX continues evaluating the performance of the spacecraft and its ability to complete different stages of the mission.

The latest launch therefore delivered mixed results for Elon Musk's SpaceX. While the satellite deployment was successful, the loss of the Super Heavy booster meant the company could not achieve its planned recovery objective.

The test flight represents another step in SpaceX's ongoing Starship development programme, with both successful operations and technical challenges providing important results for future missions.