The fourth Starship rocket test launch is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5.
Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must grant SpaceX a launch license prior to the scheduled launch date, the Elon Musk-led spaceflight business seems optimistic about its ability to launch the rocket on short notice, making June 5 a plausible date.
SpaceX’s 120-meter-tall rocket, which houses the upper-stage Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy booster, is the most powerful aircraft ever to take to the skies. The Starship’s first test flight took place last year, but it was cut short minutes after takeoff due to an anomaly. While the third test two months ago achieved many of its mission objectives and was by far the most successful of the three attempts, the second flight went one step further by completing stage separation.
The goal of the Starship’s engineers is to create a completely reusable system. Though this won’t be happening during these early testing, SpaceX intends to land and reuse both stages of the Starship, even though it presently only recovers the first stage of its trusty Falcon 9 rocket.
The rocket will be utilized for people and cargo trips to the moon and maybe Mars if it has received final certification. Additionally, SpaceX has stated that the spaceship may be utilized for high-speed travel in the future, claiming to be able to visit any location on Earth “in one hour or less.”
How to observe
On its fourth test flight, SpaceX will launch the Starship from its Starbase facility located in Boca Chica, Texas.
On Wednesday, June 5, at 7 a.m. CT (8 a.m. ET), the mission team hopes to launch the rocket, assuming the FAA gives its approval in the next few days.
On its X account, SpaceX will broadcast the build-up and launch. Watchers will be treated to an incredible show as the 33 Raptor engines of the Super Heavy shoot the enormous rocket skyward. The mission will be captured from multiple camera perspectives as it moves forward, including the dramatic launch, stage separation, and the insertion of the Starship spacecraft into orbit. Several of the camera viewpoints are fixed to the two rocket stages.
We’ll make sure to update this page if there are any scheduling changes, but for the most recent information, you can also keep a watch on SpaceX’s X account.