The Rehearsal

SpaceX has carried out a launch rehearsal at Starbase ahead of the 14th test flight of its Starship rocket. The rehearsal is a standard countdown dress rehearsal that checks fueling and ground systems before the next flight test. Space enthusiasts are following the progress closely as Starship development continues.

SpaceX has completed a full launch rehearsal for the 14th test flight of its Starship rocket, the final major checkpoint before liftoff. The wet dress rehearsal sees the vehicle loaded with propellant and taken through countdown procedures, bringing the next Starship test closer. Attention now turns to the launch date as anticipation builds around the programme's progress.

The Crew-13 astronauts have landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida as preparations intensify for a targeted October 1 launch. Their arrival puts the mission into final countdown mode, with preflight checkouts, training and rehearsals underway at the spaceport. The crewed mission is set to continue rotational flights to the International Space Station, and attention now turns to whether the launch date holds.

The US Senate has passed two bills related to pilot mental health, one year after the second season of Nathan Fielder's HBO series The Rehearsal, which focused heavily on mental health among pilots. Commentators have noted the timing, suggesting the show helped bring public attention to the issue, though the bills' specific provisions remain unclear.