SpaceX is gearing up for its fourth test flight of the Starship rocket, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 6, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) having granted the company a launch license. The Starship, which is a reusable spacecraft, stands at an impressive 120 meters tall and is comprised of the Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage Starship spacecraft.
The Starship is the most powerful rocket to ever fly, and its maiden test flight took place last year, but ended prematurely due to an anomaly shortly after liftoff. The second flight achieved stage separation, and the third test, which took place two months ago, met many of its mission goals and was the most successful of the three efforts to date.
Engineers are working towards making the Starship a fully reusable system, with the goal of landing and reusing both stages of the rocket. While this ambitious goal won’t be achieved during these early tests, the Starship is expected to be used for crew and cargo missions to the moon and possibly Mars once it is fully certified.
SpaceX Prepares for Historic Starship Test Flight on June 6 with FAA Clearance
In addition to its potential use in lunar and Martian exploration, SpaceX has also mentioned that the Starship could one day be used for high-speed transportation, which would allow any destination on Earth to be reachable in “one hour or less”.
The upcoming test flight is set to take place from the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, at 8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT on June 6, with a launch window lasting two hours. SpaceX will begin a live stream of the event on its X (formerly Twitter) account about 30 minutes before liftoff, providing viewers with an unprecedented look at the various stages of the mission, including the dramatic launch, stage separation, and the insertion of the Starship spacecraft into orbit.
Those tuning in will have the opportunity to witness the impressive sight of the Super Heavy’s 33 Raptor engines blasting the massive rocket skyward, as well as multiple camera angles capturing the various stages of the mission. The live stream will be available on SpaceX’s X account, and viewers can also keep an eye on the account for any updates on the schedule.
It’s an exciting time for space enthusiasts, as SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space exploration and technology. With its ambitious plans for the Starship, the company is well on its way to making history, and this upcoming test flight is just the latest milestone in its journey.
