SpaceX conducted its fifth flight test of Starship, its most powerful spacecraft.

The rocket is the largest ever built. It has yet to complete a full test flight, but the third time might be the charm.

The rocket cleared the launchpad and separated from its booster, surpassing the first attempt. But minutes later, controllers lost contact with the vehicle.

Getting Starship off the ground is costing the commercial spaceflight company billions of dollars at a time when money is tight. Some analysts think more funding will be needed.

Experts say Thursday's flight wasn't supposed to have gone off without a hitch, and still offers SpaceX valuable data. A space industry analyst explains why it was so significant.

The monster-sized, stainless steel, uncrewed spacecraft cleared the launch tower but failed to separate from its booster, spinning in the air before succumbing to a blast of flames.

The 400-foot-tall, stainless steel Starship could one day shuttle humans to the moon. But getting the rocket to fly is no easy feat, and it'll be 48 hours until the team can try again, SpaceX said.

Starship is the largest rocket ever built. The company hopes it will one day take people to the moon and Mars. But first it has to fly.