SpaceX Starship megarocket blasts off before expected return for reuse

Flight 15 expected to orbit Earth about 14 times over 22 hours, before company catches it at Starbase, Texas

SpaceX’s Starship megarocket blasted off from Texas on Friday afternoon as the aerospace company sought to make history with a double catch of its reusable rocket.

Starship, the world’s largest rocket, standing at 407ft, is expected to orbit Earth about 14 times over the course of 22 hours, before the company catches the rocket at its launchpad at Starbase in south Texas.