Live coverage: SpaceX launches its fifth Falcon 9 flight of the year

SpaceX is gearing up for the first full-up test-firing Thursday of all 33 engines on the booster for the company’s Starship mega-rocket in Texas, a critical milestone on the path to launching the giant vehicle on its first orbital test flight, which could happen as soon as March if this week’s test goes well.

SpaceX launched one Starlink mission from Florida but plans for a back-to-back overnight mission from the west coast were dashed after the Falcon 9 flying from Vandenberg Space Force Base California was delayed to Friday.

Check out a dazzling drone’s-eye view of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket booster returning to an on-target landing at Cape Canaveral a few minutes after launching Sunday with more than 2.5 tons of space station cargo.