Firefly Alpha upper stage malfunction puts payload into wrong orbit

The dramatic plumes seen during Starship's recent test are partly a result of hot-staging. Rarely used by American vehicles, and new for SpaceX, hot-staging was common in Soviet-era rockets. This system simplifies stage separation, and SpaceX estimates will increase Starship’s payload by 10%.

SpaceX fishes Falcon 9 payload fairing out the sea at sunrise (photo)

Native Earth, Native Sky CRS-29 Payload