Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
SpaceX has scheduled its sixth test flight of the Starship rocket for Nov. 18, aiming for liftoff from its Starbase facility in South Texas, the company announced on Nov. 6.
A 30-minute window opens at 5 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) for the launch, with SpaceX planning to livestream the event beginning half an hour before liftoff.
The fully reusable, stainless-steel Starship stands 400 feet tall, comprising the Super Heavy booster and an upper stage known as Starship or “Ship.” Both are powered by SpaceX’s advanced Raptor engines — 33 for the booster and six for the upper stage.
The Starship system has flown five times, improving with each launch. The most recent flight, on Oct. 13, saw Super Heavy successfully return for a controlled landing, caught by SpaceX’s custom “chopstick” arms beside the launch tower.
The upcoming flight will test the return and catch of the booster, as well as in-space re-ignition of a Ship Raptor engine. Additional tests on heatshield performance and descent manoeuvring over the Indian Ocean are also planned.
Credit : X/SpaceX
This Starship model includes hardware upgrades, providing extra redundancy in booster propulsion, structural reinforcements, and a shorter time to offload fuel post-catch. Software adjustments are also in place for booster launch and return phases.
SpaceX’s ultimate goal is for both the Super Heavy and Starship stages to land directly on the launch mount, streamlining the refurbishment and reflight process.
SpaceX views Starship as a transformative tool for space exploration, with ambitions to support Mars colonization and expand the possibilities of human spaceflight.