SpaceX is ready to launch the fifth test flight of its mighty Starship rocket, the most powerful rocket ever to have flown. The Elon Musk-led spaceflight company announced this on Thursday, stating that they are awaiting a flight permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Once approved, the launch could happen within days.
“Flight 5 Starship and Super Heavy are ready to fly, pending regulatory approval,” SpaceX said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). While awaiting approval, SpaceX is focusing on perfecting the catching process for the 71-meter-tall first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, upon its return to Earth after deploying the upper-stage Starship spacecraft to orbit.
Two giant mechanical arms on the launch tower will secure the booster as it descends towards SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. This system, once perfected, will allow for rapid refurbishment of the booster, enabling multiple flights.
The first four test flights resulted in the Super Heavy either exploding in midair or landing in the ocean after attempting a landing burn. The upcoming fifth test flight is highly anticipated as it aims for the first successful catch.
The Starship vehicle, encompassing the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft, had its first test flight in April 2023 and most recently flew in June 2024. Each flight has achieved an increasing number of technical objectives, steadily moving the vehicle closer to its ultimate goal: transporting astronauts and cargo to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
