Produced by: Tarun Mishra
SpaceX’s next Starship launch is expected as soon as June 5, pending approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Regulatory approval is the final step before the flight can proceed.
Cameron County, Texas, home to SpaceX's Starbase launch site, has issued road closure orders starting early June. Judge Eddie Treviño confirmed these closures are for “flight testing,” with specific windows on June 5, 6, and 7.
Official documents indicate a 14-hour launch window on June 5 from midnight to 2 PM local time. If needed, SpaceX has alternative windows of the same duration on June 6 and 7.
SpaceX plans to begin a live webcast of the launch approximately 30 minutes before liftoff, allowing the public to watch the event in real time.
The fourth flight test aims to achieve a successful orbital return and mock landing for both Starship and its Super Heavy booster. Both vehicles will perform “soft splashdowns” into the ocean as a safety precaution.
Starship’s first three launches all ended in explosions, aligning with SpaceX's iterative “fail-fast, learn-fast” approach. Each attempt provided valuable data and led to improvements.
Despite past failures, any issues during this launch will contribute to SpaceX’s ongoing development. The company’s rapid iteration and problem-solving approach suggest that even partial successes will be valuable.
Success in this launch would mark significant progress for SpaceX, aiding future missions, including NASA's Artemis program. Each test brings Starship closer to its goal of becoming a reusable spacecraft for deep space missions.