SpaceX Starship Completes Its First Orbital Test Flight

This was the rocket's fourteenth test flight.

It was also the first time Starship reached orbit.

That is a big step. Where did the flight begin?

It began at SpaceX's Starbase in Texas.

The rocket lifted off at 8:50 in the morning.

The launch was later than planned, but it still began safely.

Starship then flew high above Earth.

The flight had two main goals. Did it complete both?

The company says it completed both goals.

First, Starship reached orbit around Earth.

Second, it put 26 Starlink satellites into orbit.

These satellites are for the company's internet service.

These satellites went into orbit for regular use for the first time.

So this test also helped the company's business.

Yes. This was the first Starship flight to make money for SpaceX.

The satellites were a paying load for the company's internet service.

The flight was planned to last almost ten hours.

But SpaceX returned Starship to Earth earlier than planned.

What happened during the return?

Starship came down in the Pacific Ocean, north of Hawaii.

The mission ended about seven hours earlier than planned.

There were also engine problems during the flight.

One engine stopped during the climb into space.

The company says that engine was not needed to reach orbit.

The result sounds successful, but not perfect.

That is right. Two engines on the booster also had problems.

Still, Starship reached orbit and sent out satellites.

It also returned safely.

The flight showed clear progress, but more work remains.

Thanks, Grace.

Oura plans to sell shares after strong growth in smart rings.

Now we go to Noah, our technology correspondent.

Good to speak with you, Daniel. Oura plans to become a public company this week.

The company makes smart rings that track health information.

The rings can track sleep, steps, and stress.

They can also track body temperature and heart rate.

People often use smartwatches for this. Why are smart rings growing?

Some people want a device that is light and easy to hide.

The ring has no screen, so it looks simple.

People can wear it during the day and while they sleep.

The company says the number of users has doubled.

This happened for two years in a row.

That is fast growth. How often do people wear the ring?

The middle number is about 23 hours each day.

Many paying members wear it about five days each week.

That matters because Oura earns money in two ways.

People first buy the ring for at least 350 dollars.

Then they pay six dollars each month for the health information.

So the monthly payment is part of the business plan.

Yes. The ring is the first payment.

The monthly service is the second payment.

Oura says it has almost 42 billion hours of health data.

That is one of the largest sets of this kind.

It is a very large amount of information.

The company wants investors to value that information. Is there a concern?

Yes. Some critics worry about data safety and privacy.

They ask who can see the health information.

A group lawsuit also questions the quality of the sleep tracking.

Oura disagrees with those claims.

The big question is clear: can more data mean better health?

Not always. One expert says data can look like health.

But numbers do not tell the whole story about a person.

Now investors will decide how much Oura is worth.

Now let us review three useful words from the stories.

Launch.

It means sending a rocket into the sky.

In the story, we heard, “The launch was later than planned.”

The launch began safely.

Orbit.

It means the path around a planet.

In the story, we heard, “Starship reached orbit around Earth.”

The satellite moves in orbit around Earth.

Engine.

It is the part that makes a vehicle move.

In the story, we heard, “One engine stopped during the climb.”

The car has a new engine.

Now let us look at a useful sentence pattern.

“To make money for SpaceX.”

Use to plus a base verb to show a purpose or reason.

The company sent satellites to make money.

She studies to get a better job.

Repeat after me: to make money for SpaceX.