SpaceX's giant rocket may leave NASA in the dust

As it races to develop its new massive rocket, the space launch company is preparing to retire NASA's main ride to the International Space Station.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4850x3234+0+0/resize/4850x3234!/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F95%2Fd1%2Ff9e12ed349319dca630a884cb40f%2Fap26271836101376.jpg' alt='SpaceX's mega rocket Starship makes a test flight from Starbase, Texas, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Starship is the largest rocket ever built, but it can't yet carry astronauts.'/><p>As it races to develop its new massive rocket, the space launch company is preparing to retire NASA's main ride to the International Space Station.</p><p>(Image credit: Eric Gay)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-6039312' />