SpaceX chief Elon Musk announced on Monday that the highly anticipated Starship rocket is ready for flight. The company aims to launch the 120-meter-tall megarocket on its fourth test flight as early as Thursday, June 6. However, to meet this ambitious deadline, SpaceX requires a flight permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Once the permit is obtained, SpaceX engineers will finalize preparations to launch Starship from the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The rocket will comprise the first-stage Super Heavy booster and the upper stage Starship spacecraft.
Starship has previously completed three test flights from the same facility, two in 2023 and the most recent in March 2024. The first two flights resulted in explosions shortly after liftoff, while the third flight lasted approximately 45 minutes and achieved several mission objectives, including reaching orbit.
The upcoming fourth test flight will primarily focus on demonstrating the controlled return and reuse of both the Super Heavy and Starship vehicles. The Super Heavy booster will execute a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, while Starship will perform a controlled entry over the Indian Ocean.
Ultimately, both components of Starship are designed to return to the launch site after liftoff, similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. This capability will significantly reduce operational costs and enable the reuse of the rocket for future missions.
SpaceX has implemented several software and hardware upgrades to enhance the reliability of Starship, based on lessons learned from previous test flights. Additionally, the company will introduce operational changes, such as jettisoning the Super Heavy’s hot-stage after boostback, to reduce its mass for the final phase of flight.
The scheduled launch time for Starship’s fourth test flight is 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, June 6. SpaceX will provide a live stream of the event approximately 30 minutes prior to liftoff.
Upon successful testing and certification, Starship is anticipated to play a crucial role in NASA’s Artemis program, transporting crew and cargo to the moon. It also holds the potential to carry the first humans to Mars, although such an ambitious mission is unlikely to occur before the 2030s.
