BOCA CHICA, Texas - SpaceX launched its enormous Starship toward orbit for the first time on Monday, aiming for six full laps around Earth in a crucial test to prove the mega-rocket's readiness for NASA's Artemis moon program.

Founder Elon Musk's showpiece rocket - the biggest and most powerful ever built - lifted off carrying 26 of the latest and most advanced Starlink satellites to join the thousands of older models already providing internet service.

The launch marked Starship's 14th full-scale test flight from SpaceX's facility at the southern tip of Texas over the past three years.