← 29 September 2026's Current Affairs · Science & Tech GA Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆
SpaceX Starship Achieves First Orbital Launch
వార్తల్లో ఎందుకు?
Starship reached orbit only on its 14th flight: the reusable-rocket story GS-III Science & Technology tests
SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight, standing over 120 metres tall.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 నిమి
SpaceX's Starship megarocket, standing more than 120 metres tall, put itself into orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight.
The launch followed a licence issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the mission.
Starship is designed to be fully reusable and is central to SpaceX's plans for future lunar and Mars missions.
మూలాలు: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ముఖ్య వాస్తవాలు
Remember these
- SpaceX's Starship stands over 120 metres tall, among the tallest rockets ever built.
- It reached orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight.
- The launch followed a licence issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
- Starship is designed to be fully reusable, which lowers the cost of each launch.
- It is central to SpaceX's plans for future lunar and Mars missions.
ప్రిలిమ్స్ · మెయిన్స్
How the exam will ask it
ప్రిలిమ్స్
- Statement: Starship is designed to be a fully reusable launch system. (Correct)
- Statement: In the United States, launch licences for commercial rockets are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (Correct)
- Statement: Reusable launch vehicles can reduce the per-launch cost of access to space because major stages are recovered and flown again. (Correct)
- Statement: Starship is intended to support future lunar and Mars missions. (Correct)
మెయిన్స్
GS-III Science & Technology: reusable heavy-lift rockets are changing the economics of space access and pushing private firms into a space race once led by states. India's response includes IN-SPACe, which authorises and promotes private space activity, and ISRO's work on reusable launch vehicles. The way forward is to strengthen the private-sector role, invest in reusability and heavy-lift capability, and build clear licensing and safety regulation.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
SpaceX's Starship, which stood over 120 metres tall for its recent test flight, achieved its first-ever orbital launch on which attempt?
- 8th test flight
- 10th test flight
- 12th test flight
- 14th test flight
సమాధానం చూడండి
సమాధానం: D — Correct: 14th test flight — Starship, standing over 120 metres tall, put itself in orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight, having received an FAA launch licence. • 8th, 10th, 12th test flights — wrong: all understate the actual attempt number.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ