The upcoming orbital test flight will be the first time SpaceX attempts to reach orbit with Starship. Those test flights were never intended to go to orbit, though they did lead to a few explosive landing attempts as well as a series of impressive belly flop maneuvers. It's now more than 18 months since a Starship prototype last lifted off as part of a series of high-altitude flight and landing tests beginning in 2021. SpaceX successfully completed a full flight-like wet dress rehearsal of Starship in late January, leading Musk to state that the private space firm would likely make an orbital launch attempt in February or March. On a call with Morgan Stanley on Tuesday, March 7, SpaceX founder Elon Musk said 'Hopefully in the next month or so we'll have our first attempt.' SpaceX prepares for first orbital Starship launch attempt Before reaching the red planet, the rocket, which is poised to become the world's most powerful operational rocket, will also send humans to the moon for the first time since 1972. Starship is part of the private space firm's plans to eventually send humans to Mars by drastically cutting launch costs with a fully reusable megarocket. SpaceX is nearing the first orbital launch attempt of its Starship prototype.

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