spaceflight

SpaceX's Starship megarocket is set to launch to orbit for the first time ever today, September 28, with live coverage available. The flight marks a major milestone for the company's next-generation launch system, and space watchers around the world are following the attempt closely.

SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on the program's 14th test flight, with live coverage showing the vehicle heading for orbit from the company's Texas launch site. The flight is part of SpaceX's ongoing campaign to prove out the massive rocket intended for missions to the Moon and Mars. Viewers worldwide followed the launch online, and spaceflight watchers are discussing the vehicle's performance and what it means for upcoming test milestones.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is not expected to carry astronauts again until 2028, according to a new report on the troubled crew capsule program. The timeline represents a lengthy delay following Starliner's earlier crewed test flight, which left its first astronauts on the International Space Station due to thruster problems. The extended gap raises fresh questions about Boeing's role in NASA's commercial crew program as SpaceX continues ferrying crews.

SpaceX has launched its Starship into orbit for the first time, a milestone in the development of the giant rocket designed for deep space missions. The flight was cut short before completion, but the company and observers are treating the launch itself as a major step forward in getting the vehicle off the ground and into space.

SpaceX's Starship completed a full-duration test flight of roughly three hours, returning through the atmosphere and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii. The flight marks another step in the rocket's development campaign, with observers tracking how the vehicle handled reentry and recovery. SpaceX has not detailed the outcome of every test objective, but the splashdown confirms the ship survived to its planned end point.

SpaceX has launched its Starship rocket on its first orbital test mission, a major milestone for the company's next-generation launch system. The flight marks the most ambitious test yet of the vehicle SpaceX plans to use for missions to the Moon and eventually Mars. Observers are watching closely to see how the rocket performs through launch and orbital flight stages.

SpaceX has launched its supersized Starship rocket into orbit, the most powerful launch vehicle ever built. The test flight marks a major milestone for the company's next-generation spacecraft, which is central to its plans for deep-space missions. Details about the flight's outcome and NASA's reaction are still emerging.

SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built, is preparing for its first attempt to reach orbit. The milestone flight has drawn widespread attention because success would mark a major step for space exploration and could significantly lower the cost of reaching space, with potentially far-reaching effects on the industry.

SpaceX has launched its Starship spacecraft aboard the company's giant Super Heavy rocket on the vehicle's first flight intended to reach orbit. The test flight marks a major milestone for the most powerful rocket ever built, which SpaceX hopes will eventually carry crews to the Moon and Mars. Coverage is focused on the launch itself and what it means for future deep-space missions.

NASA has published an overview of its SpaceX Crew-13 mission, detailing the upcoming crewed flight to the International Space Station. The briefing covers the astronauts assigned to the mission, the launch timeline, and the goals of the flight as the Commercial Crew Program continues its routine rotation of crews. The update gives the public a look at the next chapter in NASA and SpaceX's ongoing partnership in human spaceflight.

SpaceX is preparing its Starship vehicle for an unprecedented flight lasting around 10 hours, a major step up from previous test durations. The attempt is being streamed live, and space watchers are following to see whether the spacecraft can endure an extended mission, a key milestone for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.

A Space Summit has been held at Blue Origin's Rocket Park in Florida, according to Florida Today. Details on the attendees, agenda and outcomes have not been released beyond confirmation of the event itself. The gathering drew attention because it took place at the facilities of Jeff Bezos's rocket company, a key player in the commercial space sector.

The Financial Times reports that SpaceX is shifting focus away from its spaceflight ambitions, in a piece headlined 'SpaceX pivots away from space' with the subheading 'Starbase, we have a problem'. The article suggests the company's priorities are moving beyond rockets, prompting debate about what this means for Starbase, Starship and the broader commercial space programme.

SpaceX's Starship has achieved orbit, a milestone in the development of the company's next-generation heavy-lift rocket. Attention now turns to the tougher challenges ahead, including proving the vehicle can reenter, land and be reused reliably, which are key to its future missions.

Elon Musk has made a bold prediction about SpaceX's future involving artificial intelligence. The claim, reported by The Motley Fool, suggests the rocket company could play a significant role in AI development, extending Musk's ambitions beyond spaceflight and Tesla. No further details about the prediction or its timeline have been reported so far.

NASA is stepping up support for Boeing's Starliner astronaut capsule as the company works to return the spacecraft to flight. The Starliner suffered so many problems during its 2024 test flight that its two pilots, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, were left stranded aboard the International Space Station for nearly a year, with NASA eventually bringing them home on a SpaceX capsule. The push to fix the troubled capsule has drawn renewed attention to Boeing's struggles in its commercial crew programme.

Space at Smith's Jon Crocker has given a Q&A on the significance of SpaceX's Starship orbital debut, explaining what a first orbital flight of the giant rocket would mean for spaceflight. The interview breaks down the technical milestones Starship must hit and why the debut matters for future missions to the Moon and Mars.