SpaceX will launch Starship for a seventh test flight on Thursday, an experiment that will feature the spacecraft’s first payload deployment test, marking what could be the latest milestone for the Elon Musk-owned aerospace company as it develops reusable rockets.
The rocket’s latest launch will feature Starship’s first payload deployment test.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Takeaways
- SpaceX was initially scheduled to launch Starship from Boca Chica, Texas, at around 5 p.m. EST Wednesday, with a livestream starting at 4:15 p.m. on SpaceX’s X account and website. However, it has now pushed the launch back to Thursday. The 60-minute launch window will open at 4:00 p.m. CT, SpaceX says on its website.
- Starship’s flight is expected to last just over 66 minutes, according to SpaceX, and will feature several experiments for the spacecraft, including Starship’s first payload deployment test—a set of 10 replica Starlink satellites—and tests for upgrades to the spacecraft’s flight computer, avionics and heat shield.
- Starship’s Super Heavy booster will reuse one of its 33 engines for the first time and SpaceX will attempt to catch the booster with two mechanical arms—similar to a successful catch during Starship’s fifth launch test—if conditions are optimal.
- During Starship’s sixth launch test in November, the spacecraft splashed down in the Indian Ocean but an attempted catch of its Super Heavy booster was skipped.
What If Starship Doesn’t Launch?
The Federal Aviation Administration has allowed SpaceX to launch Starship between Jan. 9 and Jan. 17, suggesting the company could have until Thursday. SpaceX officials have reportedly said it could take several days to refuel the spacecraft, which could delay Starship’s seventh launch further.
What To Watch For
SpaceX has requested approval from the FAA to increase the maximum number of annual Starship launches from five to 25. The FAA is expected to rule on the proposal after a public comment period ends on Jan. 17.
Key Background
SpaceX has launched Starship six times since the spacecraft’s debut flight in April 2023. SpaceX has tested Starship to make the spacecraft fully reusable, allowing the ship to carry both cargo and people to space. Starship is considered the largest and most powerful rocket ever developed and stands at nearly 400 feet.
The first test lasted just four minutes, and a second test flight in November 2023 lasted eight minutes because of a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.” The spacecraft successfully reentered Earth’s atmosphere during its fourth test launch in June 2024, during which SpaceX maintained contact with Starship throughout its flight and the spacecraft completed its first landing burn about an hour after launch.
Tangent
Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company Blue Origin postponed the launch of its New Glenn rocket on Monday because of poor weather conditions, and another launch will be attempted on Jan. 16. Bezos’ Blue Origin and Musk’s SpaceX have competed in recent years for governmental contracts and funding to develop a lunar lander for Artemis V, a NASA mission that will return astronauts to the moon in 2029. NASA has said it intends to ask both companies to develop cargo versions of NASA’s crewed human landing systems.
Forbes Valuation
Musk has a fortune valued at $424.2 billion, making him the world’s wealthiest person, according to our latest estimates. Bezos is the world’s second-richest, with a net worth estimated at $236.8 billion.
This article was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
