SpaceX Set to Attempt Fourth Starship Rocket Test Flight #

SpaceX is scheduled to launch its Starship rocket on its fourth test flight as part of its ongoing development efforts. The launch window for the test is set for a two-hour period between 8 a.m. ET and 10 a.m. ET. The company plans to launch the Starship from its facility near Boca Chica, Texas. If weather or technical issues arise during the designated launch window, SpaceX will reschedule the attempt for a later date.

In previous test flights, SpaceX has achieved significant milestones, but the rocket has been destroyed before completing the flights. During the last test flight, the Starship reached the farthest distance and was able to demonstrate new capabilities, such as opening and closing the payload door in space and fuel transfer during flight.

The Starship system, designed to be fully reusable, aims to provide a new means of transporting cargo and people beyond Earth. It plays a crucial role in NASA’s plan to return astronauts to the moon, as SpaceX won a contract from the agency to use Starship as a crewed lunar lander.

For the fourth test flight, SpaceX aims to surpass the achievements of the previous flight. The focus will be on executing a landing burn and a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico with the Super Heavy booster, while achieving a controlled entry of Starship. The company has made software and hardware changes to increase the rocket’s reliability.

The Starship rocket, with its Super Heavy booster, is the tallest and most powerful ever built. Standing at 397 feet tall and with a diameter of about 30 feet when fully stacked, it surpasses NASA’s Space Launch System rocket in terms of thrust. The booster uses 33 Raptor engines while the Starship itself has six Raptor engines. The rocket operates using liquid oxygen and liquid methane propellants, requiring over 10 million pounds for launch.