Another enormous Starship rocket is being launched into space by SpaceX. Here’s how to watch,
SpaceX’s Starship mega-rocket has now undergone five test launches, and its sixth is scheduled for as early as November 18.
Monday will see the sixth test of Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Starship mega-rocket since April 2023.
The launch occurs just over a month after SpaceX’s fifth test, which was mainly successful and in which the company managed to “catch” Starship’s first-stage Super Heavy rocket in a launch tower’s “chopstick.” It’s SpaceX’s quickest turnaround to yet; in the past, the company had to wait months between flights in order to appease regulators and make necessary modifications.
At 4:00 p.m. CT/5:00 p.m. ET, SpaceX intends to launch Starship inside a 30-minute window. However, the weather or other circumstances can cause the test to be postponed. Both SpaceX’s website and its account on X, the social media network that was formerly known as Twitter before Musk bought it in 2022, will broadcast the attempt. About half an hour prior to takeoff, that live stream will start.
With its most recent test, SpaceX hopes to move closer to reusing its complete system, which would significantly reduce costs and increase the viability of repeat trips. The business aims to test SpaceX’s modifications to the rocket’s heat shield, rekindle the Raptor engine while in space, and have its booster return to its Starbase launch facility in southern Texas and be captured by the “Mechazilla” launch tower.
Despite its desire to capture the Super Heavy booster once more, SpaceX stated that if computerized health checks indicate that a capture is not feasible, it will fall back on a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. There should be noticeable sonic booms surrounding the landing area as it returns to the launch pad.
The upper stage of the starship will aim to splash down in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX anticipates that it will be simpler to witness its return because the attempt will be conducted in the afternoon instead of the early morning as in earlier testing.
“As we approach complete and quick reusability, the lessons learned from this and future flight tests will continue to make the entire Starship system more reliable,” SpaceX stated in a statement.
Reaching Mars, which Musk has stated is essential to the survival of human civilization, is the ultimate goal for both Starship and SpaceX. His belief that “the first Starships to Mars will launch in 2 years when the next Earth-Mars transfer window opens” was restated in September. He says the first crewed flights will take place in 2028, four years from now, and that mission will be uncrewed.