Ascent

SpaceX is preparing its Starship megarocket for its first-ever attempt to reach orbit, scheduled for Sept. 28, with the launch available to watch live. The test flight marks a major milestone for the vehicle that SpaceX intends to use for missions to the Moon and eventually Mars. Attention is focused on whether the rocket can complete its ascent and orbital demonstration.

SpaceX launched its supersized Starship rocket toward orbit for the first time, a milestone for the company's next-generation launch system. The test flight marks a major step for the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built, which SpaceX aims to use for missions to the Moon and eventually Mars. Attention is focused on how the vehicle performed through launch and ascent.

SpaceX is preparing for the first orbital test flight of its Starship spacecraft, with live coverage following final preparations at its launch site in Texas. The test marks a key milestone for the vehicle SpaceX intends to use for missions to the Moon and eventually Mars. Observers are watching closely to see whether the rocket can complete its ascent and orbital attempt, and what lessons the company draws from the debut launch.

German artist and writer Philipp Ruch has published a new book arguing that most popular assumptions about the Nazis' ascent are mistaken. In an interview with The Guardian, Ruch describes Hitler as a 'lazy criminal who slept in until noon' and contends that viewing the NSDAP through the lens of the later Third Reich has distorted understanding of how fascism achieved its electoral breakthrough in Germany.

The Guardian has published a review of The Last First, a documentary about a winter ascent race on K2, the world's second-highest mountain. The review describes how the climb exposed the fatal consequences of the climbers' flaws, highlighting the deadly risks of high-altitude mountaineering in winter conditions on the Pakistan peak.

French viewers are tuning in to an Arte programme exploring how Bernard Arnault built the LVMH empire, tracing his ascent from acquiring Boussac to leading the world's largest luxury group. The broadcast has sparked renewed discussion in France about Arnault's business methods, his influence in the luxury sector and the concentration of wealth behind brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior and Moët Hennessy.

Donald Trump is returning to the place where his political ascent began, according to a Washington Post report, at a moment when Republicans are struggling. The article frames the visit against the party's current difficulties, drawing attention to Trump's continuing hold on the GOP and questions about its direction heading into upcoming contests.

The synopsis for episode 2 of the third season of the TV anime 'Ascent with Appraisal Skill' has been released. In the new episode, the massive army of Saitsu Prefecture, allied with the Basmark faction, closes in, raising the stakes in the series' ongoing conflict. The series, based on the Kodansha light novel, is airing as part of the autumn 2026 anime season.

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch was visible across Hampton Roads in Virginia and parts of North Carolina, drawing widespread attention from residents who spotted it in the sky. Local outlet WAVY published footage of the rocket's ascent, and viewers shared accounts of the unusual sight across the region.

Tom Hiddleston says he pursued 'total fitness' to prepare for his role as mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary in Tenzing, a production about the first successful ascent of Everest. The story is drawing attention for the physical commitment the actor brought to portraying Hillary's part in the 1953 expedition alongside Tenzing Norgay.

Afore and Ascent have formed a referral partnership aimed at serving business owner clients. Under the alliance, the two firms will refer clients to one another, giving business owners access to a broader range of financial and advisory services. The move reflects a wider trend of firms partnering to offer more integrated support to owner-managed businesses.

Apple TV is releasing 'The Last First,' a production depicting an extreme winter ascent of K2, the world's second-highest mountain. The item is being shared among Japanese-language television audiences, with interest centred on the mountain's notoriously harsh winter conditions and the climbers who attempt the rare feat of reaching its summit in that season.

International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has introduced AQUASCENT, a new advanced water-based fragrance technology. The innovation is designed to expand fragrance formulation options, though the company has not disclosed detailed technical specifications or commercial partners in the announcement.