Superheavy-lift rockets like SpaceX’s Starship could transform astronomy by making space telescopes cheaper
- Written by Martin Elvis, Senior Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Institution
SpaceX's Starship rocket launches in August 2025. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty ImagesAfter 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...









