Rocket Report: Lightning strikes in China; Starship launch on deck

SpaceX delayed, then prepared Starship’s 13th test flight after a last-second abort, underscoring the pace and difficulty of rocket testing.

India’s Skyroot Aerospace said Vikram-1 reached orbit on its first commercial launch, a notable milestone for the country’s private space sector.

China’s Long March 3B was struck by lightning after launch, while Relativity Space announced a second rocket factory near Cape Canaveral.

The U.S. Interior Department is seeking public input on turning offshore oil platforms into possible launch sites, signaling new ideas for launch infrastructure.