SpaceX makes progress on second test of Starship

SpaceX conducted its second test launch of its rocket that could one day carry astronauts to the moon and Mars .

Peter Bergen : Many more launches must occur before it can carry humans into space.

He says it will be a challenge to establish that Starship is reliable, reliable, that it can refuel in orbit.

Bergen says SpaceX 's ability to jump through regulatory hoops depends on federal bureaucracy.

The United States can uphold rigorous safety standards, guard the environment, and beat China to the moon all the same. The latest Starship test launch shows as much. Unless, that is, it doesn't. Many things could go wrong. NASA could fail to do its part, for example, or Musk 's impulsive social media posts could come to haunt SpaceX. But the biggest danger may be a toxic combination of too much red tape, too little state capacity, and a lack of political will to address either one ..