Starbase, Texas

Spectators are gathering at SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas to see the Starship rocket up close on the eve of its launch. The crowds reflect strong public interest in the vehicle ahead of the upcoming flight test, with visitors turning out for a rare close look at the rocket on the pad.

SpaceX has carried out the 14th flight test of its Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built. The test from Starbase, Texas is part of the company's iterative campaign to prove out the vehicle for future lunar and Mars missions, and it is drawing wide attention from space watchers and news outlets.

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved SpaceX for the 14th flight of its Starship rocket, clearing the way for the next launch from Starbase in Texas. Starship is central to NASA's Artemis moon plans and Elon Musk's Mars ambitions. The approval comes as each successive test flight draws wide attention across the space and aerospace communities.

The Financial Times reports that SpaceX, Elon Musk's rocket company, is pivoting away from its space focus, with a companion headline reading 'Starbase, we have a problem'. The report has drawn attention and comment as observers weigh what the shift means for the company's ambitions around Starship and its Texas Starbase operations.