SpaceX Set for Historic Starship Test Flight Attempt

AFP/APP

Boca Chica: SpaceX is gearing up for a landmark test flight of its Starship rocket on Sunday, where the company aims to achieve a world first by catching the returning first-stage booster using the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms. This maneuver is critical to SpaceX’s goal of rapid rocket reusability.

The launch is scheduled from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, with the window opening at 7:00 am (1200 GMT). A live webcast will be available on the company’s website and its X (formerly Twitter) account.

Early Sunday, SpaceX confirmed favorable conditions for the launch, targeting liftoff at 7:25 am.

This test, Starship’s fifth, follows a successful splashdown in the Indian Ocean during its previous flight in June.

SpaceX hopes this mission will achieve the first-ever return and “catch” of the Super Heavy booster. The upper stage of Starship will also aim for another controlled reentry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

NASA is closely watching the development of Starship, which is expected to serve as a lander for the Artemis program, facilitating crewed missions to the Moon later this decade.