SpaceX rolled out an upgraded version of its megarocket for pre-launch testing, but images of the next-generation booster show signs of damage ahead of Starship’s first orbital flight early next year. On Thursday, SpaceX began the initial round of pre-launch testing of Booster 18, the first Super Heavy for Starship’s version 3 that’s set to […]
Government Shutdown Grounds Daytime Launches for SpaceX and Other Private Space Companies
The wild west of private spaceflight just got a hint of order as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) placed new restrictions on when commercial missions can launch and reenter through Earth’s atmosphere. The FAA issued a new order to temporarily restrict commercial space activities during peak hours for the navigable airspace, permitting private launches and […]
Starship V3: The World’s Largest Rocket Is About to Get Even Bigger
This past Monday, October 13, Starship Version 2 launched for the last time, ending its nearly two-year run on a high note. The megarocket’s 11th suborbital test flight marked the final launch of this iteration of Starship, making way for an upgraded version that’s larger and equipped with more efficient Raptor engines. Starship’s Version 3 […]
Watch Live: SpaceX Launches Starship on its Most Ambitious Test Flight Yet
SpaceX’s Starship megarocket is back on the launch pad at Boca Chica, prepared and ready for its final flight test of the year. Flight 11, scheduled to lift off on Monday evening at the earliest, will also be the final test flight for this iteration of Starship, Version 2—if everything goes to plan. The launch […]
Scientists Prove That Human Gut Bacteria Can Survive a Trip to Space Without Us
Space travel is not for the weak. Astronauts endure motion sickness, disorientation, cardiovascular stress—and that’s before they even reach orbit. Luckily, the bacteria that lives inside us is far more resilient. A new study shows that a gut bacteria essential for human health can survive the stress of being launched into space aboard a rocket, […]
Nudists and Surfers Protest SpaceX’s Plans to Launch Starship From Florida
SpaceX isn’t very popular among beachgoers in Florida at the moment. The rocket company applied for a permit to launch its Starship rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which threatens to restrict beach access for surfers and casual nudists. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently hosted a series of public meetings where residents […]
Watch Live as SpaceX Tries to Prove Starship Isn’t a Total Flop With Flight 10
SpaceX is gearing up for the tenth test flight of its megarocket following a streak of failures that have cast doubt on Starship’s ability to fly to Mars in 2026. Starship is slated for lift-off on Sunday, August 24, during a launch window that opens at 7:30 p.m. ET. SpaceX recently wrapped up investigations into […]
Rocket Lab Has Some Genuine Competition for SpaceX, but It Can’t Reach the Launchpad
California-based startup Rocket Lab is looking to compete with industry leader SpaceX with its upcoming launch vehicle, Neutron. But before it can debut its reusable rocket later this year, the company has to figure out a way to transport Neutron’s components to the southern tip of Wallops Island in Virginia. Rocket Lab is awaiting approval […]
Honda Unexpectedly Enters the Space Race With First Successful Rocket Launch
In a bizarre twist, Honda, the Japanese car manufacturer, has taken its engineering off-road—and into space. The company launched and landed a prototype reusable rocket on Tuesday, June 17, marking a key milestone toward its newfound goal of achieving suborbital spaceflight by 2029. In the surprise announcement, Honda R&D—the company’s research arm—said it successfully completed […]