SpaceX's Starship makes 3rd flight test but loses during re-entry

LOS ANGELES -- SpaceX launched its massive Starship rocket for the third time on Thursday, but the company lost communication with the vehicle before it made it to its planned splashdown location in the Indian Ocean.

The rocket lifted off at 8:25 am Central Time from SpaceX's Starbase test site in Boca Chica, Texas.

About three minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, successfully separated from the upper-stage Starship spacecraft. SpaceX completed opening and closing the vehicle's payload door and transferring propellant between two of Starship's tanks in orbit during the flight test, according to the company's live broadcast.

But the vehicle was lost as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere.

The third flight test aims to build on previous flights while attempting a number of ambitious objectives, including the successful ascent burn of both stages, opening and closing Starship's payload door, a propellant transfer demonstration during the upper stage's coast phase, the first ever re-light of a Raptor engine while in space, and a controlled reentry of Starship, according to SpaceX.

It also flies a new trajectory, with Starship targeted to splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The new flight path enables the mission team to attempt new techniques like in-space engine burns while maximizing public safety, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket, collectively referred to as Starship, represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.