SpaceX Targets an Orbital Starship Flight with a Next-Gen Vehicle in 2026

SpaceX plans to conduct an orbital flight of its Starship vehicle by 2026. This milestone will mark a significant advancement in the development of Starship, as orbital missions will provide valuable data on the spacecraft's heat shield performance and enable testing of in-orbit refueling, crucial for future missions to Mars. The company aims to move beyond the current suborbital test flights and achieve the next level of Starship's capabilities. Orbital missions will help validate the vehicle's design and systems, paving the way for more ambitious interplanetary endeavors. SpaceX's Starship program has been making steady progress, and this planned orbital flight represents a crucial step towards realizing its long-term goals of sustainable space exploration and human settlement on Mars.
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