SpaceX is gearing up for the fourth flight test of its massive Starship rocket on Thursday. The Starship Super Heavy vehicle is scheduled to lift off from SpaceX’s launch site in South Texas during a 120-minute window that opens at 8:00 AM ET.
The livestream of the event will be available on SpaceX’s account on X, starting at 7:30 AM ET, approximately 30 minutes before liftoff.
The primary objective for this fourth flight test is to demonstrate the ability to return and reuse Starship and its Super Heavy booster. This requires the spacecraft to survive the reentry phase through Earth’s atmosphere, which caused it to break apart during its last flight test. This launch builds on the lessons learned during Starship’s flight in March, where the craft successfully launched into space and completed several objectives before losing contact.
Starship stacked for Flight 4
The two-hour launch window opens tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. CT → https://t.co/XjreI7nQOp pic.twitter.com/4WYU5wMKE9
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 5, 2024
SpaceX has implemented several hardware and software updates to address issues encountered in previous tests. The third flight test was the most successful to date, with the first two Starship launches ending in fiery explosions shortly after liftoff.
If all goes as planned this time, the Starship will execute a controlled entry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the Super Heavy booster is expected to perform a landing burn and achieve a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
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