Friday's test flight marks a major milestone for SpaceX as the company gears up to go public and to participate in NASA's Artemis III mission in 2027By Claire Cameron Screenshot/XJoin Our Community of Science Lovers!SpaceX on Friday launched the latest and largest version of Starship. Lifting off at around 6:30 P.M. EDT, the flight is the first test of Starship Version 3 (V3). This is the twelfth Starship test and the first demonstration of the rocket in seven months.Fully stacked with its booster, the rocket is 408 feet (124 meters) tall and packing 18 million pounds of thrust, it is the tallest and most powerful rocket ever built. The entire vehicle is designed to be reusable, but SpaceX is not attempting to recover the booster or the rocket after this test.NASA administrator Jared Isaacman praised SpaceX before the test flight, nodding to Starship's anticipated role in future Artemis missions to return astronauts to the moon as soon as 2028. "We're looking forward to meeting up with you all in low Earth orbit," said Isaacman, referring to the agency's 2027 mission Artemis III, which will see NASA's crew capsule Orion attempt to dock with either (or both) a modified version of Starship and a Blue Moon spacecraft.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated.It’s Time to Stand Up for ScienceIf you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.