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.

Mary Peltola, the Alaska Democrat who became the first person to represent the state's at-large congressional district under its new ranked-choice voting system, is the subject of a profile highlighting her rapid and turbulent ascent to national politics. The piece traces how the former state legislator and Yup'ik salmon fisher's 'one of us' appeal helped her win, alongside the challenges she has faced in office.

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.

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.

STS-51-F, a Space Shuttle mission launched in July 1985 aboard Challenger, suffered the shutdown of a main engine during ascent and became the only full mission to perform an abort-to-orbit, reaching a lower but usable orbit to complete its scientific work. The event remains a notable case study in flight contingency planning and crew performance under failure conditions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A new review of 'The Last First: Winter K2' praises the film's depiction of a winter ascent of K2, where falling rocks, avalanches, heroism and greed collide. The movie follows climbers battling one of mountaineering's deadliest challenges, blending survival drama with questions of ambition and ethics on the world's second-highest peak.

A retrospective look at Hideki Tojo, Japan's wartime prime minister and general who led the country through much of World War II, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, and was executed as a war criminal in 1948. The piece recounts his ascent to power, his authoritarian rule, and his downfall after Japan's surrender.

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.