SpaceX Rocket Blasts Off in a Key Orbital Test

SpaceX launched its enormous Starship toward orbit for the first time Monday, aiming for six full laps around Earth to prove its readiness for NASA's Artemis moon program. It was Starship's 14th full-scale launch from Texas in three years, but the earlier flights ventured no farther than the Indian Ocean halfway around the world, often crashing in flames and briefly skimming space. This time, Elon Musk's company was intent on circling the globe from an altitude of 170 miles—not just once but six times over almost 10 hours, ending with a Pacific splashdown near Chile, per the AP. SpaceX is pressing hard to certify Starship for orbital flight, a vital step toward moon and Mars travel. More details at Space.com.