SpaceX conducted its 13th demo mission of Starship, the massive rocket that takes flight from the Starbase site near Brownsville, Texas. The launch began around 6:45 p.m. Eastern on Friday, flying easterly and targeting a planned re‑entry into the Indian Ocean. The vehicle, standing roughly 400 feet tall, is the core technology behind many of the company’s goals, including lunar missions for NASA, expanding the Starlink network, and deploying AI satellites.

The test comes shortly after SpaceX’s historic initial public offering, during which the company was valued at a record high. The company has invested more than 15 billion dollars in the Starship program, which remains in the test and development phase.

Analysts at JPMorgan Chase note that “everything depends on Starship,” highlighting the:S significance of each flight in proving the vehicle’s repeatability. The recent launch was originally scheduled for last week but was scrubbed due to booster engine issues, then delayed again by inclement weather before Friday’s successful liftoff.

This flight marks the first since the IPO and underscores SpaceX’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of commercial spaceflight.