"Starship flip maneuver and landing burn on its fifth flight test. Vehicle improvements ensured flaps were protected from high heating, resulting in a controlled entry and high-accuracy splashdown at the targeted area in the Indian Ocean," SpaceX wrote in a Friday (Oct. 18) post on X that shared the 21-second video.

The fifth test flight of SpaceX's Starship ended with a groundbreaking success—a smooth landing. This marks the first time a rocket of such size and power has returned to Earth after reaching space. This achievement highlights how close the future of space travel truly is.

The fifth flight test of SpaceX's Starship megarocket on Oct. 13 demonstrated not only great engineering but also some amazing photography. Here are some of the best shots.