SpaceX claims the fifth test flight of its Starship rocket will happen “within days”, but the Federal Aviation Administration has not yet approved the launch
By Matthew Sparkes
11 October 2024
SpaceX’s Starship rocket before its first test flight in 2023
SpaceX
SpaceX has had a Starship ready and waiting for its fifth test flight since August, and now the company claims that it could launch as soon as this weekend.
What is Starship?
Starship is the most powerful rocket to fly. SpaceX aims to develop it into a rapidly reusable vehicle that can take large payloads into orbit, land back on Earth and launch another mission within hours. The company has been taking a “fail fast” approach to research and development more commonly seen in Silicon Valley than the conservative world of space exploration.
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What will the next test flight entail?
The fifth test flight is likely to be the first attempt at catching Starship’s Super Heavy booster – the first stage of the rocket – as it drops back to the launch pad. SpaceX’s launch tower, called Mechazilla, is equipped with a pair of “chopsticks” that will grab the booster at a specific point and secure it, allowing it to be lowered to the ground.
When will the launch take place?
SpaceX says on its website that the flight could happen as soon as 13 October, pending regulatory approval.
The US Coast Guard has seemingly added official weight to the claim by issuing a warning to mariners that rocket launching operations are taking place near Boca Chica, Texas, between 7 am and 8.10 am Central Standard Time (CST), albeit a day earlier on 12 October.