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The Conversation
Martin Elvis, Senior Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Institution

Superheavy-lift rockets like SpaceX’s Starship could transform astronomy by making space telescopes cheaper

SpaceX's Starship rocket launches in August 2025. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

After a string of dramatic failures, the huge Starship rocket from SpaceX had a fully successful test on Oct. 13, 2025. A couple more test flights, and SpaceX plans to launch it into orbit.

A month later, a rival rocket company, Blue Origin, flew its almost-as-large New Glenn rocket all the way to orbit and sent spacecraft on their way to Mars.

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