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SpaceX launches Starship rocket as it aims to orbit around Earth for first time
The 407-foot rocket carried 26 Starlink satellites as SpaceX sought to prove Starship can reach orbit and support NASA’s Artemis moon program.
- On Monday, SpaceX launched its 407-foot Starship toward orbit for the first time, carrying 26 advanced Starlink satellites to join the 11,000 older models already providing internet service.
- The mission aims to circle Earth at 170 miles altitude for 10 hours before a Pacific splashdown near Chile, proving Starship's readiness for NASA's Artemis moon program.
- Following the 14th full-scale launch from Texas in three years, Founder Elon Musk emphasized caution, stating, "Our popularity would diminish very rapidly" if debris rains onto people. Engineers modified the heat shield based on previous inspections.
- NASA's Artemis III mission next summer will feature a triple-launch docking exercise in orbit, with Jeff Bezos' Blue Moon blasting off first, then Orion, followed by Starship for a docking maneuver.
- Additional launch sites near completion at Florida's Kennedy Space Center and Louisiana will support future operations. Musk plans to use Starship to haul satellites by the truckload, eventually phasing out the Falcon rocket.
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Elon Musk's Starship megarocket took off to reach Earth orbit and deploy 26 state-of-the-art Starlink satellites.
·Monterrey, Mexico
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SpaceX’s supersized Starship launches toward orbit for the first time
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. The company stressed that everything needed to be operating properly before issuing the critical “go” for orbit. A “no-go” call would bring the flight to a quick,...
Coverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left9Leaning Right4Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution45% Left
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Left
45% Left
L 45%
C 35%
R 20%
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