SpaceX to attempt putting Starship rocket into Earth orbit for first time

Three years after its first test flight, SpaceX's Starship rocket will attempt Monday to enter Earth's orbit, a key step in the development of the massive launch vehicle designed for future missions to the Moon and Mars. On the heels of its high-profile initial public offering in June, Elon Musk's SpaceX plans to shift into high gear with a 14th test flight featuring ambitious goals. Read moreSpaceX: Why Chinese investors are banned from the biggest IPO in history The test, expected to last about 10 hours, will involve the upper stage of the experimental rocket flying into Earth orbit and deploying 26 next-generation Starlink satellites there – if all goes well. But the launch, scheduled to take place in Texas starting at 7:15am local time (1215 GMT), could hold surprises, as multiple previous tests have ended in spectacular explosions. After several years of development and testing in Texas, SpaceX began flying the rocket in its full configuration in 2023, deliberately following suborbital trajectories, which are safer and less challenging. Watch moreWhose space is it? Europe scrambles as US rules satellite race Numerous modifications have been made to the black-and-silver behemot...