The rocket then fell to the ground belly-side down and was guided by the four flaps on its sides.
Falling to the ground this way, SpaceX hopes, will prepare Starship for atmospheric entry on worlds like Mars where spaceports and launchpads are an alien concept.
SpaceX said: “SN9 successfully performed a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent.
“The Starship prototype descended under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of two forward and two aft flaps on the vehicle.
source: express.co.uk