The May 27 launch was the Starship's ninth flight test, and the latest step toward SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s goal of sending humans to Mars by 2026

Starship 's two stages separated as planned on Flight 9, and the upper stage even reached space, which was an improvement over the giant vehicle's most recent two flights. But SpaceX ended up losing both stages before they could accomplish their full flight goals.

Critics of longtermism say it appeals to wealthy tech moguls precisely because it adds a sheen of morality to their masters-of-the-universe projects. They also say that the moguls’ ultimate goal is a utopian civilization of humans, biological and robotic, all A.I. enhanced.

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, two of the world’s richest individuals, compete with each other in more area than one, including space, EV trucks and satellites.