Starship – Page 2 – Spaceflight Now

January 17, 2025

Breaking News

[ January 17, 2025 ] SpaceX successfully catches Super Heavy booster, loses Starship upper stage during Flight 7 Mission Reports
[ January 16, 2025 ] Launch preview: SpaceX to launch its Starship rocket on a 7th suborbital test flight from Starbase Mission Reports
[ January 15, 2025 ] American, Japanese robotic landers share rocket launch to the Moon Falcon 9
[ January 14, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 131 spacecraft on Transporter-12 Falcon 9 rideshare mission from California Falcon 9
[ January 13, 2025 ] SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Falcon 9

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.

Super Heavy-Starship climbs high but falls short on second test flight

November 18, 2023 William Harwood

SpaceX’s gargantuan Super Heavy-Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, blasted off on its second test flight Saturday and while the initial stages of the mission went smoothly, the first stage broke apart moments after separation from the Starship upper stage, which then blew itself up as it neared space.

Live Coverage: SpaceX to launch Starship/Super Heavy Booster on second test flight

November 18, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX is counting down for the second test flight of its mammoth Starship launch vehicle. Liftoff from Starbase in Texas is scheduled for 7 a.m. CST / 8 a.m. EST (1300 UTC). If all goes according to plan the Starship will travel around the world before splashing down in the Pacific near Hawaii.

FAA clears SpaceX for second Super Heavy-Starship test flight

November 16, 2023 William Harwood

SpaceX’s huge Super Heavy-Starship rocket has been cleared for a second test flight in an attempt to boost the unpiloted Starship upper stage into space for the first time, the company announced Wednesday. On Thursday Elon Musk announced the launch has slipped to Saturday to replace a grid fin actuator.

SpaceX poised for ‘mid-November’ launch of second Starship test flight

November 4, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

More than half a year after its first flight, SpaceX believes it’s on the cusp of getting to launch its Starship rocket for a second time.

FAA concludes SpaceX Starship safety review, continues environmental review

October 31, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX’s highly anticipated second test flight of its Starship super heavy lift rocket is one step closer to liftoff from South Texas. On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced the conclusion of its safety review. The FAA said it is still working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete an environmental review.

On-time Artemis landings by SpaceX, Blue Origin possible, but face “great challenges”

October 27, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The head of NASA’s Human Landing System program sat down with Spaceflight Now to discuss the progress of getting humans back to the Moon for the first time since 1972.

SpaceX battles regulatory process that could hold up Starship test flight for months

October 18, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX leadership is heading to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to lobby for greater efficiency when it comes regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company is hoping to streamline the process of issuing launch licenses for both Starship test flights and more routine Falcon 9 rocket missions.

FAA closes SpaceX-led Starship mishap investigation

September 12, 2023 Spaceflight Now

The FAA has closed the SpaceX-led mishap investigation following the first Starship Integrated Test Flight (IFT). SpaceX founder Elon Musk also published the checklist of 63 items to be completed before the company can apply for a launch license modification for IFT-2.