Starship reaches orbit a decade after Musk's Mars rocket reveal
Ten years after Elon Musk introduced a Mars settlement rocket concept at the 2016 International Astronautical Congress, SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time on Sept. 28, 2026, during its 14th test flight. The vehicle's design shifted from a carbon-fiber Interplanetary Transport System to a stainless-steel rocket, and NASA chose it as the first crewed lunar lander for Artemis. Key capabilities, including orbital refueling and full mission operations, still need to be demonstrated before Starship can support moon or Mars missions.
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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “SpaceX's Starship just turned 10 years old. When will it go to Mars?.” Browse more stories.