Thursday broker round-up

SpaceX Starship achieves first successful landing of Starship rocket

SpaceX achieved its first successful landing of the Starship prototype rocket on Wednesday after four previous failed attempts

The space company, which is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, marked a milestone with the test, as it brings it one step closer to the completion of a reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle that could take astronauts and cargo to the moon and Mars.

The Starship SN15 blasted off from the SpaceX launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, along the Gulf Coast and reached its planned maximum altitude of 10 kilometers, then hovered momentarily before flying nose-down under aerodynamic control back toward Earth.

Musk declared success on Twitter: "Starship landing nominal!"

The four previous attempts of the Starship prototypes had blasted off successfully but afterwards blew to pieces.

SpaceX is now planning its first orbital Starship flight which is expected to take place before the end of 2021.