Starship – Spaceflight Now

December 6, 2024

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Super Heavy-Starship launches on sixth test flight, skips tower catch

November 20, 2024 Spaceflight Now

With President-elect Donald Trump and newly-minted efficiency czar Elon Musk looking on, SpaceX launched the world’s most powerful rocket on its sixth test flight Tuesday, an up-and-down trip to space by a gargantuan Super Heavy-Starship to evaluate a variety of safety and performance upgrades.

Launch preview: SpaceX to launch Starship Flight 6 test mission from Starbase in southern Texas

November 19, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission is likely to be the fourth and final Starship flight before the end of 2024. Liftoff from Pad 1 at Starbase at Boca Chica Beach, Texas, is set for 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST, 2200 UTC).

SpaceX targets Starship Flight 6 launch on November 18

November 8, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

This will be the fastest turnaround for the Starship program as SpaceX works towards what needs to become a weekly launch cadence for NASA’s Artemis program. Liftoff is set for no earlier than 4 p.m. CST (5 p.m. EST, 2200 UTC) on Nov. 18.

Starship booster catch brings NASA, SpaceX closer to Artemis 3 Moon landing

November 1, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

As a milestone for NASA’s Human Landing System program, SpaceX is working towards an on-orbit propellant transfer demonstration campaign, beginning in spring 2025. The Artemis 3 Moon landing is targeting touchdown in Fall 2026.

Live coverage: SpaceX to attempt first booster catch during the Starship Flight 5 mission

October 13, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch continues SpaceX’s advancement of the rocket, which is key not only to its ambitions, but also to NASA’s Artemis program. Liftoff from Starbase is set for 7 a.m. CDT (1200 UTC), the start of a 30-minute launch window.

FAA, NASA seek public input on SpaceX Starship launches at the Kennedy Space Center

June 12, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The public scoping on Starship missions at Launch Complex 39A offer community input through in-person and virtual information sessions. The open house-style meetings come about a month following the conclusion of an environment review on a 100-acre SpaceX expansion at KSC.

SpaceX details learnings from Starship Flight 3, sets June 5 as target launch date for Flight 4

May 25, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission will focus on proving the reusability of the rocket and not on additional flight objectives, like operating the payload bay door or reigniting the vacuum engines on the Ship upper stage. The June 5 launch window opens at 7 a.m. CDT (8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC).

SpaceX launches Starship on the third flight test of the program

March 14, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The Federal Aviation Administration released the launch license modification allowing the mission to move forward on Wednesday afternoon. Starship launched at 8:25 a.m. CT (9:25 a.m. ET, 1325 UTC).

SpaceX tentatively targets March 14 for third Starship flight

March 7, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX published a livestream for the mission, suggesting it could launch its more than 400-foot-tall rocket by mid-March. There are still a number of outstanding items before that could happen, including the Federal Aviation Administration issuing a launch license.

First astronaut missions to the Moon since 1972 delayed due to heat shield questions, hardware readiness

January 10, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced on Tuesday that Artemis 2 will be delayed until Sept. 2025 and Artemis 3 until Sept. 2026. The additional time is needed both from a hardware readiness perspective as well as to answer outstanding questions about the heat shield.