SriLanka, May 24 -- The most powerful SpaceX starship ever launched has exploded in the Indian Ocean after a mostly successful test flight.

The voyage was not without a few glitches, but SpaceX employees shown on a livestream roared in delight following the trial flight that comes as the firm owned by Elon Musk prepares a potentially record initial public offering.

The spacecraft is an upgraded version of the Starship that Nasa is counting on to land astronauts on the moon.

The Starship blasted off from the southern tip of Texas, carrying 20 mock Starlink satellites that were released midway through the hour-long spaceflight that stretched halfway around the world.

It experienced some engine trouble before reaching its final destinati...