SpaceX's Starship megarocket is the world's biggest and most powerful rocket, and the giant booster that will launch the moon lander for NASA's Artemis 3 mission that aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2026.
SpaceX aims for Starship Flight 5 launch on Oct. 13
SpaceX's Starship Flight 5 rocket and its Super Heavy booster are stacked together ahead of a planned launch from Boca Chica Beach, Texas on Oct. 13, 2024, pending FAA approval. (Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX on Friday, Oct. 11, said its next Starship rocket could launch as early as Sunday, Oct. 13, pending final FAA regulatory approvals. Liftoff is targeted for no earlier than 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) on Oct. 13 , if the approvals come through in time. A livestream of the launch will be available on this page at launch time.
The upcoming test flight, called Starship Flight 5 , will liftoff off from SpaceX's Starbase testing site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas - the same site for four previous Starship launch tests. This flight aims to build on SpaceX's Starship Flight 4 success on June 6 , which marked the first Starship to reach space and a smooth "soft" splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico for the rocket's massive Super Heavy booster.
For Flight 5, SpaceX hopes to recreate the success of the Starship vehicle's trajectory to target splashdown site in the Indian Ocean. But in a first, SpaceX will also attempt to return the rocket's massive Super Heavy booster, which is powered by 33 Raptor engines, back to its launch pad. There, SpaceX will attempt to catch the booster in the "chopsticks" of its massive Mechazilla launch pad structure. The system is designed to eventually allow quick turnarounds for Starship Super Heavy boosters for flights.
"Starship stacked ahead of its fifth flight test," SpaceX wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday afternoon (Oct. 11). "We expect regulatory approval in time to fly on October 13."
SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk have said repeatedly that they have been ready to launch Starship Flight 5 since August, but have been held up by FAA reviews and proposed fines related to environmental concerns over the rocket's water deluge system.
Last month, the FAA said it would likely take until November to issue a license for the Starship Flight 5 launch due to additional reviews related to the water deluge system, which FAA officials have required consultation with other regulatory agencies. Meanwhile, SpaceX is also facing potential fines from the FAA amounting to $633,000 related to Falcon 9 rocket launches. SpaceX has bristled at both the Flight 5 Starship delays and the potential fines, threatening to sue the FAA on the latter issue.
If you can't see SpaceX's Starship in person, you can score a model of your own. Standing at 13.77 inches (35 cm), this is a 1:375 ratio of SpaceX's Starship as a desktop model. The materials here are alloy steel and it weighs just 225g. View Deal
"We find ourselves delayed for unreasonable and exasperating reasons," SpaceX wrote in a blog post on Sept. 10. "Unfortunately, we continue to be stuck in a reality where it takes longer to do the government paperwork to license a rocket launch than it does to design and build the actual hardware. This should never happen and directly threatens America's position as the leader in space."
When fully assembled, SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy booster stand about 400 feet (122 m) tall, making it the world's tallest and most powerful rocket. Both the Starship and its Super Heavy booster are designed to be reusable, though the Flight 5 mission does not plan to recover the Starship vehicle.
NASA has picked SpaceX's Starship as the lunar lander for its Artemis 3 mission, which aims to send up to four astronauts to the moon for a crewed landing sometime in 2026. SpaceX has also sold at least one flight Starship to American billionaire Jared Isaacman, with reservations for another Starship trip around the moon. One Starship circumlunar flight reserved by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa was canceled earlier this year .
We will post updates on Starship Flight 5 and subsequent test flights and missions here as events warrant.
FAA clears SpaceX for Starship launch on Oct. 13
(Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX is officially "GO" to launch the Starship Flight 5 test flight for its new megarocket after receiving a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration. The launch is set for Sunday, Oct. 13, at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) .
"The FAA has issued a license modification authorizing SpaceX to launch multiple missions of the Starship/Super Heavy vehicle on the Flight 5 mission profile," FAA officials wrote in a statement today (Oct. 12). "The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements for the suborbital test flight."
For this test flight, SpaceX will launch the Starship and Super Heavy booster, which together are the world's largest and most powerful rocket, and attempt to return the booster to its launch pad at the company's Starbase facility and capture it with a the giant arms of its "Mechazilla" pad structure. The Starship rocket, meanwhile, will fly on a path that will take it over the Indian Ocean, where SpaceX hopes to perform a smooth reentry and "soft landing" in the ocean.
Starship Flight 5 ready to launch, Elon Musk says
(Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX's Flight 5 Starship and Super Heavy rocket are fully stacked and one day away from launch, and CEO Elon Musk says the company is excited to attempt is first-ever booster catch.
"Looks like Starship might fly on Sunday! This the largest & most powerful flying object ever made at more than double the thrust of the Saturn V Moon rocket," Musk wrote on X late Friday. "We will try to catch it upon return to launch site using the Mechazilla arms like giant chopsticks (like Karate Kid)!
While SpaceX hopes to try and catch the Super Heavy booster, the company may opt to "soft-land" it in the Gulf of Mexico if anything looks off for the flight.
"SpaceX engineers have spent years preparing and months testing for the booster catch attempt, with technicians pouring tens of thousands of hours into building the infrastructure to maximize our chances for success. We accept no compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public and our team, and the return will only be attempted if conditions are right," SpaceX wrote in a mission overview .
"Thousands of distinct vehicle and pad criteria must be met prior to a return and catch attempt of the Super Heavy booster, which will require healthy systems on the booster and tower and a manual command from the mission’s Flight Director," SpaceX added. "If this command is not sent prior to the completion of the boostback burn, or if automated health checks show unacceptable conditions with Super Heavy or the tower, the booster will default to a trajectory that takes it to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico."
SpaceX and Cameron County officials have issued a sonic boom warning to the residents living in the general area around the company's Starbase facility so they can expect the loud booms of the Super Heavy's return.
SpaceX's webcast will begin at about 7:35 a.m. EDT (1135 GMT) with a targeted launch time of 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) . SpaceX has a 30-minute launch window for today's test flight, and may have backup opportunities on Monday and Tuesday.
"Currently still go for launch," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X a few hours ago.
I'm Tariq Malik, Editor-in-Chief of Space.com, and will have live commentary here as events warrant for the mission.
Today's flight test should last about 65 minutes, with much of the action occurring up front as SpaceX hopes to attempt the first landing and capture of its Super Heavy booster at its Mechazilla launch pad. That should occur in the first 8 minutes. At the 65-minute mark, the Starship vehicle is expected to reentry over the Indian Ocean, west of Australia, and could include live views from the spacecraft as on Flight 4 in June.
SpaceX GO for Starship Fueling, Launch @ 8:25 am ET
SpaceX reports all systems are "go" to begin fueling the Starship rocketship and its Super Heavy booster for today's planned Flight 5 test flight but it seems like there's a new 8:25 a.m. ET (1225GMT) launch time from the company's Starbase site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas.
"The Starship team is go for prop load, and weather is looking ideal for today's flight test!" SpaceX wrote in an X update . "The launch webcast will go live ~35 minutes ahead of liftoff which is currently targeted for 7:25am CT. "
A launch time at 7:25 a.m. CT (8:25 a.m. EDT) would set a 7:45 a.m. EDT webcast start time 35 minutes earlier.
Fueling underway for Starship Flight 5
SpaceX has begun fueling the Starship upper stage with the liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellant to power its six Raptor engines.
Fueling of the Super Heavy first stage for its 33 Raptor rocket engines is expected to begin shortly.
Fueling begins for Starship Super Heavy
SpaceX has now begun fueling the Starship Super Heavy booster for today's launch.
The company's webcast has not yet begun on X.
Today's launch, originally scheduled for 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), was pushed back to 8:25 a.m. EDT (1225 GMT). The company's initial 30-minute launch window for today's flight will close at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT), if SpaceX sticks to it.
SpaceX Starship Flight 5 launch webcast begins
SpaceX's Starship Flight 5 livestream has begun! You can follow it live on Space.com's homepage, on this page and at our YouTube channel .
New heat shield on Starship
(Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX says Starship Flight 5 will use new heat shield tiles the company has designed to be stronger and perform better than those used on the Starship Flight 4 vehicle.
The company has also made upgrades to the launch tower and catching mechanism for today's flight.
Starship will also carry some special aluminum heat shield tiles to collect more information on the heating environment during reentry on the vehicle.
Starship engines in chilldown, countdown goes smoothly
SpaceX reports that the 39 engines on the Starship/Super Heavy rocket (33 on Super Heavy and six on Starship) are in a chilldown phase in preparation for today's launch.
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Hout reports no technical issues for today's launch. SpaceX is working to clear the launch range offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, but expected to be clear at launch time.
"As of right now, we're just under 14 minutes to liftoff and not working any issues," Hout says.
At the T-5 minute mark, SpaceX continues to work to clear boats from the offshore launch range.
Spokesman Dan Hout says SpaceX may hold the launch for up to 5 minutes, the rest of its window, in order to get those ships clear. Aside from that, no issues for launch.
Liftoff! SpaceX launches Starship Flight 5 test
LIftoff! SpaceX's fifth Starship and Super Heavy test flight has cleared the pad at 8:25 a.m. EDT (1225 GMT). The launch is proceeding.
The Starship Flight 5 Super Heavy booster has separated from its Starship vehicle and successfully completed its boostback burn.
SpaceX's launch tower is GO for catch attempt for landing!
Starship continues its ascent.
Starship Super Heavy to attempt landing
SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy rocket is headed back to its launch site for today's historic landing attempt.
SpaceX has live views of the booster on its way back to Earth.
"We are go for catch," Kate Tice says,
SPACEX CATCHES STARSHIP BOOSTER!
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SpaceX just made history with the successful capture of its Super Heavy rocket during an audacious first landing attempt of the most powerful rocket on Earth.
Starship coasting in space, Super Heavy secure
SpaceX's Starship vehicle is in a 1-hour coast phase as it makes its away to the other side of the world for a reentry over the Indian Ocean, west of Australia.
A jubilant SpaceX is still reeling from the successful capture of its Super Heavy rocket on the first try. Drone video is showing spectacular views of the towering booster hanging from its Mechazilla launch pad arms after the capture.
Space.com's initial launch story will be posted shortly.
Starship reentry begins
(Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX's Starship vehicle has begun its reentry into Earth's atmosphere, with a red glow of super hot plasma visible in live views from the spacecraft delivered by SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet constellation.
It should take about 10 minutes for Starship to complete reentry.
Starship passes through peak heating
(Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX's Starship Flight 5 vehicle has passed through the peak heating phase of today's reentry and appears to be on track for its upcoming landing flip and burn.
There does appear to be some burn through on one of the four flaps on the spacecraft in live views.
Starship now subsonic
The Starship Flight 5 vehicle is subsonic and nearing its landing flip for an attempted soft-landing in the Indian Ocean.
SPLASHDOWN! SpaceX Starship soft-lands in ocean, explodes
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SpaceX's Starship Flight 5 vehicle successfully made a "soft-landing" in the Indian Ocean, showing live all the way down. After its landing burn, the Starship vehicle tipped over on its side to fall into the ocean, then appeared to explode to end its mission. Read our full wrap story and see photos and video .
"I think it's safe to say, we have a Ship in the water," SpaceX's Kate Tice said.
SpaceX showed live video of the splashdown aftermath from a buoy that was waiting at the splashdown site.
And that is a wrap for today's SpaceX Flight 5 Starship launch. At the time of its ending, about 4 million people were watching SpaceX's livestream. We will update our wrap story with the successful splashdown shortly and thanks for joining us!
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