SpaceX: Why is Elon Musk’s latest Starship rocket test a big deal?

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has successfully completed a world-first test, landing part of his Starship back on the launch pad.

It means company plan Much closer is the development of a fully reusable and rapidly deployable rocket.

BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh explores why this “incredibly complex” operation has major implications for future research and what environmental concerns people might have about it.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US government agency that approves all flights, previously said there would be no launches until November as it reviewed the company’s approvals.

The agency and Elon Musk have been at loggerheads since last month after the FAA said it was trying to fine his company SpaceX $633,000 for allegedly failing to comply with license conditions and failing to authorize previous flights.

Before issuing a license, the FAA studies the flight’s impact, particularly on the environment.

In response to the fine, Musk threatened to sue the agency, and SpaceX published a public blog post criticizing “false reports” that part of the rocket was polluting the environment.

Filmed and edited by Beatrice Guzzardi.

Produced by Ian Casey.