FAA issues Starship Flight 7 launch license
SpaceX's next Starship test flight is a step closer to launch.
This week, SpaceX and the FAA announced a series of milestones that put billionaire Elon Musk's company on track for a new Starship launch. That mission, called Flight 7, will mark the seventh test flight of a Starship Ship vehicle and SUper Heavy booster.
The FAA launch license for Flight 7 clears an essential hurdle for SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 test flight, while also including some leeway in the case of specific failure scenarios (such as a vehicle lost at sea) that do not include damage to ground-based structures or injuries.
In the last week, SpaceX has also test-fired the Starship Flight 7 Ship, as well as its Super Heavy booster. The company also tested the Ship's ability to relight its Raptor engines in space.
The Flight 7 Ship will be a new version of Starship designed to improve the overall performance of the spacecraft, SpaceX has said. The new design includes forward flaps that are both smaller and in a slightly different location to better protect them during reentry, company officials have said. It will also include more redundancy for reliability, and systems to operate longer in space.
While SpaceX has not yet released a specific flight plan for Starship Flight 7, the FAA launch license for the mission includes a similar profile to Flight 5 and Flight 6. Those launches included plans to launch the Ship vehicle on a path that ended with a "soft-landing" in the Indian Ocean, while the Super Heavy booster aimed to return to the launch site to be caught in the giant metal "chopsticks" of its launch tower.
SpaceX's Starship Flight 5 test in October successfully caught the Super Heavy booster in the "chopsticks," but the company ultimately waived off a capture attempt on the Flight 6 mission, and performed a soft-landing in the Gulf of Mexico instead.
Some media reports have suggested SpaceX could attempt a Starship Flight 7 launch in early January, perhaps around Jan. 11, but SpaceX has not yet issued a targeted launch date.
Starship Flight 6 soft-lands in Indian Ocean smoothly
SpaceX's Starship Flight 6 Ship vehicle made what appeared to be a smooth descent and splashdown in the Indian Ocean. Read our full recap of the Starship Flight 6 launch and landing with photos and video.
The vehicle made a flawless landing burn, pitch over and soft-landing as cameras on a buoy looked on.
Unlike SpaceX's Flight 5 test flight, the Ship did not appear to explode after splashdown, but merely tipped over on its side engulfed in flames. SpaceX warned the public not to approach any Starship debris in the ocean from Ship or the Super Heavy booster as a safety measure.
This will wrap up our SpaceX Starship Flight 6 live updates. Thanks for joining us and we'll see you with SpaceX's Flight 7 test, which could occur soon.
Reentry Underway for SpaceX Starship Flight 6
SpaceX's Starship Flight 6 vehicle is reentering the Earth's atmosphere and going through its peak heating phase as it returns to Earth.
SpaceX is intentionally putting the vehicle through a harsher reentry profile and removed more than 20,000 heat tiles to test the heating environment and stress on the spacecraft.
SpaceX relights Starship engine in space
SpaceX's Starship Flight 6 vehicle has fired up one of its six main engines in an in-space relight test that appears to have gone well. The test was very brief, but was a critical demonstration for future in-space maneuvers by Starship vehicles.
The Ship vehicle is on a reentry approach, with an orange plasma glow as it proceeds back to Earth.
Starship Flight 6 in cruise mode
SpaceX's Starship Flight 6 Ship vehicle is currently in a 40-minute cruise mode as it flies around Earth following a successful launch from the company's Starbase facility.
SpaceX will attempt a Raptor engine relight during this cruise phase as a test for future flights. The vehicle will then make a descent and soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean after undergoing a reentry heating and flight profile that will be more rigorous that SpaceX's Flight 5 test flight last month.
Starship Super Heavy booster splashdown
SPLASHDOWN! SpaceX's Starship Flight 6 Super Heavy booster has splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico after SpaceX waived off its rocket catch attempt during landing.
The company did not give a specific reason for aborting the launch pad catch of the rocket, but did say that many factors had to go right to proceed with the attempt. "We tripped a commit criteria," SpaceX's Dan Huot said.
Meanwhile, the Starship vehicle itself has reached its nominal altitude and is in a cruise phase for today's hourlong flight.
SpaceX calls off Starship Super Heavy booster catch
SpaceX is NO GO for a Super Heavy booster catch, and is waiving off to an offshore soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
Stage Separation, SpaceX GO for Booster catch
SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy booster have successfully separated, with SpaceX GO for a booster catch at its launch pad.
LIFTOFF! SpaceX launches Starship Flight 6
LIFTOFF! SpaceX's Starship Flight 6 has lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase pad near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas in an on time launch at 5 pm ET.
The Starship and its Super Heavy booster ignited 33 Raptor engines on its first stage to begin the climb to space.
This is SpaceX's 6th Starship test flight. If all goes well, the Super Heavy may return to its launch site for a mechanical arm capture and landing, with the Starship headed on an hourlong trip to landing and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
Starship Flight 6 MINUTES from launch
SpaceX's Starship Flight 6 spacecraft and Suepr Heavy booster are just minutes away from launch as fueling concludes. Weather looks very good for flight, with no technical issues.
"The fun part is about to start," SpaceX's Dan Huot said
Liftoff is MINUTES AWAY from launch at 5 pm ET.
SpaceX launching stuffed banana on Starship Flight 6
SpaceX has revealed its first payload to fly on a Starship rocket: a stuffed banana.
The company is launching a plush banana suspended by wires inside the giant Starship vehicle and is promising live views of the banana throughout the flight if all goes well.
SpaceX placed an emblem of a pixelated banana holding a banana on the nose of the Starship vehicle to mark this flight. The company is also selling the banana plush toy for $30 on its website, as well as the banana emblem as wall decal for $75.
Meanwhile, on Starship: "Starship and Super Heavy’s 39 Raptor engines are chilling down in preparation for liftoff," the company says.
Starship fueling underway for Flight 6
Fueling is in fuel swing for SpaceX's Starship Flight 6 test flight.
"We're loading right up to the last possible minute," SpaceX spokesman Dan Huot said in a live commentary. "Weather is fantastic, light breeze, no clouds in the sky, not tracking any hardware constraints to launch today, if we're not able to get off the path, though, we've got opportunities throughout the week."
Starship GO for fueling
SpaceX says its Starship Flight 6 spacecraft and Super Heavy booster are "go" for fueling.
"The Starship team is go for prop load," SpaceX wrote in an update. The company is expected to start its live launch webcast soon.
Starship is fueled by 10 million pounds of super-cold liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellant to feed its 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy and six vacuum Raptor engines on the Starship upper stage.
Trump to attend Starship Flight 6 launch
SpaceX is just hours away from its Starship Flight 6 launch and the company will have a special guest on scene to watch the launch.
"I’m heading to the Great State of Texas to watch the launch of the largest object ever to be elevated, not only to Space, but simply by lifting off the ground," Trump wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "Good luck to @ElonMusk and the Great Patriots involved in this incredible project!"
Trump repeatedly referred to SpaceX's successful Starship Flight 5 launch, which included the first catch of a Super Heavy booster, during the final days of his presidential campaign as well as during his victory speech after winning the U.S. election.
I’m heading to the Great State of Texas to watch the launch of the largest object ever to be elevated, not only to Space, but simply by lifting off the ground. Good luck to @ElonMusk and the Great Patriots involved in this incredible project! https://t.co/UVpVSkpEyuNovember 19, 2024
SpaceX counting down for Starship Flight 6
It is launch day for SpaceX's Starship Flight 6 and the company appears on track for today's planned rocket launch and Super Heavy booster catch from Starbase near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. Liftoff is targeted for 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT), with a livestream to begin at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT).
"All systems and weather are looking good for today's flight test of Starship," SpaceX wrote in an update on X (formerly Twitter).
You'll be able to watch the SpaceX Starship Flight 6 launch webcast live on Space.com at start time.
All systems and weather are looking good for today's flight test of Starship.The live launch webcast on @X will go live ~40 minutes before liftoff, which is targeted for 4:00 p.m. CT → https://t.co/1xyLhQKE2N pic.twitter.com/lqy2CsL4vzNovember 19, 2024
SpaceX fuels Starship and Super Heavy in Flight 6 test
SpaceX has fueled the its massive Starship rocket and Super Heavy booster in a test for the company's Flight 6 test flight ahead of a planned launch on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
The towering Starship and Super Heavy passed a so-called "wet-dress rehearsal" on Sunday, Nov. 17, as SpaceX prepares for the Flight 6 launch. The fueling test was one of the final checks ahead of the test flight, which will mark SpaceX's sixth Starship launch overall.
Like SpaceX's Flight 5 launch on Oct. 13, Flight 6 aims to launch a Starship rocket atop a Super Heavy booster, return the booster to Earth to be captured by metal "chopsticks" at the launch pad, and then soft-land the Starship in the Indian Ocean.
While the flight profile of Flight 6 is similar to that of Flight 5, there are key differences. Check out our What to Expect for Starship Flight 6 overview for more.
SpaceX is currently targeting Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT) to launch Starship Flight 6, with a livestream beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT). You'll be able to watch the Starship Flight 6 live online, including on Space.com, at that time.
SpaceX Starship Flight 6 Launch now set for Nov. 19
SpaceX is now targeting Tuesday, Nov. 19, to launch its sixth Starship test flight from the company's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas.
The Starship and Super Heavy booster were stacked for flight on Friday, Nov. 15, in advance of the launch. SpaceX was initially targeting a launch date of no earlier than Nov. 18, with potential backup dates on Nov. 19 and Nov. 20.
The company is now targeting no earlier than Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT) for the launch, with at least one backup day on Nov. 20, based on road closure alerts from the Texas's Cameron County officials.
SpaceX eyes Nov. 18 for Starship Flight 6 launch
SpaceX is now targeting Nov. 18 for its next Starship launch, which will loft the sixth test flight of the world's largest rocket.
Flight 6 of SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy booster is scheduled to lift off no earlier than Monday, Nov. 18, from the company's Starbase test site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. Liftoff is set for 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) during a 30-minute launch window.
As with SpaceX's successful Flight 5 on Oct. 13, Flight 6 will attempt to capture the Starship Super Heavy booster at its landing site using giant metal "chopsticks." The Ship vehicle, meanwhile, will attempt a "soft landing" in the Indian Ocean before splashing down and sinking.
SPLASHDOWN! SpaceX Starship soft-lands in ocean, explodes
SpaceX's Starship Flight 5 vehicle successfully made a "soft-landing" in the Indian Ocean, showing live all the way down. After its landing burn, the Starship vehicle tipped over on its side to fall into the ocean, then appeared to explode to end its mission. Read our full wrap story and see photos and video.
"I think it's safe to say, we have a Ship in the water," SpaceX's Kate Tice said.
SpaceX showed live video of the splashdown aftermath from a buoy that was waiting at the splashdown site.
And that is a wrap for today's SpaceX Flight 5 Starship launch. At the time of its ending, about 4 million people were watching SpaceX's livestream. We will update our wrap story with the successful splashdown shortly and thanks for joining us!
Starship now subsonic
The Starship Flight 5 vehicle is subsonic and nearing its landing flip for an attempted soft-landing in the Indian Ocean.
Starship passes through peak heating
SpaceX's Starship Flight 5 vehicle has passed through the peak heating phase of today's reentry and appears to be on track for its upcoming landing flip and burn.
There does appear to be some burn through on one of the four flaps on the spacecraft in live views.
Starship reentry begins
SpaceX's Starship vehicle has begun its reentry into Earth's atmosphere, with a red glow of super hot plasma visible in live views from the spacecraft delivered by SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet constellation.
It should take about 10 minutes for Starship to complete reentry.
Starship coasting in space, Super Heavy secure
SpaceX's Starship vehicle is in a 1-hour coast phase as it makes its away to the other side of the world for a reentry over the Indian Ocean, west of Australia.
A jubilant SpaceX is still reeling from the successful capture of its Super Heavy rocket on the first try. Drone video is showing spectacular views of the towering booster hanging from its Mechazilla launch pad arms after the capture.
Space.com's initial launch story will be posted shortly.
SPACEX CATCHES STARSHIP BOOSTER!
SpaceX just made history with the successful capture of its Super Heavy rocket during an audacious first landing attempt of the most powerful rocket on Earth.
Starship Super Heavy to attempt landing
SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy rocket is headed back to its launch site for today's historic landing attempt.
SpaceX has live views of the booster on its way back to Earth.
"We are go for catch," Kate Tice says,
Stage Separation! Starship 2nd stage continues ascent
The Starship Flight 5 Super Heavy booster has separated from its Starship vehicle and successfully completed its boostback burn.
SpaceX's launch tower is GO for catch attempt for landing!
Starship continues its ascent.
Liftoff! SpaceX launches Starship Flight 5 test
LIftoff! SpaceX's fifth Starship and Super Heavy test flight has cleared the pad at 8:25 a.m. EDT (1225 GMT). The launch is proceeding.
SpaceX working to clear Starship launch range
At the T-5 minute mark, SpaceX continues to work to clear boats from the offshore launch range.
Spokesman Dan Hout says SpaceX may hold the launch for up to 5 minutes, the rest of its window, in order to get those ships clear. Aside from that, no issues for launch.
T-10 minutes to Starship Flight 5 launch
SpaceX is now 10 minutes away and counting to the launch of its Starship Flight 5 mission. There are about 1 million people watching the company's livestream on X and nearly 20K on Space.com's VideoFromSpace stream.
Starship engines in chilldown, countdown goes smoothly
SpaceX reports that the 39 engines on the Starship/Super Heavy rocket (33 on Super Heavy and six on Starship) are in a chilldown phase in preparation for today's launch.
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Hout reports no technical issues for today's launch. SpaceX is working to clear the launch range offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, but expected to be clear at launch time.
"As of right now, we're just under 14 minutes to liftoff and not working any issues," Hout says.
New heat shield on Starship
SpaceX says Starship Flight 5 will use new heat shield tiles the company has designed to be stronger and perform better than those used on the Starship Flight 4 vehicle.
The company has also made upgrades to the launch tower and catching mechanism for today's flight.
Starship will also carry some special aluminum heat shield tiles to collect more information on the heating environment during reentry on the vehicle.
SpaceX Starship Flight 5 launch webcast begins
SpaceX's Starship Flight 5 livestream has begun! You can follow it live on Space.com's homepage, on this page and at our YouTube channel.
Fueling begins for Starship Super Heavy
SpaceX has now begun fueling the Starship Super Heavy booster for today's launch.
The company's webcast has not yet begun on X.
Today's launch, originally scheduled for 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), was pushed back to 8:25 a.m. EDT (1225 GMT). The company's initial 30-minute launch window for today's flight will close at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT), if SpaceX sticks to it.
Fueling underway for Starship Flight 5
SpaceX has begun fueling the Starship upper stage with the liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellant to power its six Raptor engines.
Fueling of the Super Heavy first stage for its 33 Raptor rocket engines is expected to begin shortly.
SpaceX GO for Starship Fueling, Launch @ 8:25 am ET
SpaceX reports all systems are "go" to begin fueling the Starship rocketship and its Super Heavy booster for today's planned Flight 5 test flight but it seems like there's a new 8:25 a.m. ET (1225GMT) launch time from the company's Starbase site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas.
"The Starship team is go for prop load, and weather is looking ideal for today's flight test!" SpaceX wrote in an X update. "The launch webcast will go live ~35 minutes ahead of liftoff which is currently targeted for 7:25am CT."
A launch time at 7:25 a.m. CT (8:25 a.m. EDT) would set a 7:45 a.m. EDT webcast start time 35 minutes earlier.
SpaceX set for Starship Fight 5 test
SpaceX remains go for today's planned Starship Flight 5 launch test and you'll be able to watch it all live on Space.com.
SpaceX's webcast will begin at about 7:35 a.m. EDT (1135 GMT) with a targeted launch time of 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT). SpaceX has a 30-minute launch window for today's test flight, and may have backup opportunities on Monday and Tuesday.
The primary webcast will be livestreamed on SpaceX's X page, but you can also watch it on YouTube at Space.com's VideoFromSpace channel.
"Currently still go for launch," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X a few hours ago.
I'm Tariq Malik, Editor-in-Chief of Space.com, and will have live commentary here as events warrant for the mission.
Today's flight test should last about 65 minutes, with much of the action occurring up front as SpaceX hopes to attempt the first landing and capture of its Super Heavy booster at its Mechazilla launch pad. That should occur in the first 8 minutes. At the 65-minute mark, the Starship vehicle is expected to reentry over the Indian Ocean, west of Australia, and could include live views from the spacecraft as on Flight 4 in June.
Starship Flight 5 ready to launch, Elon Musk says
SpaceX's Flight 5 Starship and Super Heavy rocket are fully stacked and one day away from launch, and CEO Elon Musk says the company is excited to attempt is first-ever booster catch.
"Looks like Starship might fly on Sunday! This the largest & most powerful flying object ever made at more than double the thrust of the Saturn V Moon rocket," Musk wrote on X late Friday. "We will try to catch it upon return to launch site using the Mechazilla arms like giant chopsticks (like Karate Kid)!
Looks like Starship might fly on Sunday!This the largest & most powerful flying object ever made at more than double the thrust of the Saturn V Moon rocket. We will try to catch it upon return to launch site using the Mechazilla arms like giant chopsticks (like Karate Kid)! https://t.co/8g7mLaTCRKOctober 11, 2024
While SpaceX hopes to try and catch the Super Heavy booster, the company may opt to "soft-land" it in the Gulf of Mexico if anything looks off for the flight.
"SpaceX engineers have spent years preparing and months testing for the booster catch attempt, with technicians pouring tens of thousands of hours into building the infrastructure to maximize our chances for success. We accept no compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public and our team, and the return will only be attempted if conditions are right," SpaceX wrote in a mission overview.
"Thousands of distinct vehicle and pad criteria must be met prior to a return and catch attempt of the Super Heavy booster, which will require healthy systems on the booster and tower and a manual command from the mission’s Flight Director," SpaceX added. "If this command is not sent prior to the completion of the boostback burn, or if automated health checks show unacceptable conditions with Super Heavy or the tower, the booster will default to a trajectory that takes it to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico."
SpaceX and Cameron County officials have issued a sonic boom warning to the residents living in the general area around the company's Starbase facility so they can expect the loud booms of the Super Heavy's return.
FAA clears SpaceX for Starship launch on Oct. 13
SpaceX is officially "GO" to launch the Starship Flight 5 test flight for its new megarocket after receiving a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration. The launch is set for Sunday, Oct. 13, at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT).
"The FAA has issued a license modification authorizing SpaceX to launch multiple missions of the Starship/Super Heavy vehicle on the Flight 5 mission profile," FAA officials wrote in a statement today (Oct. 12). "The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements for the suborbital test flight."
For this test flight, SpaceX will launch the Starship and Super Heavy booster, which together are the world's largest and most powerful rocket, and attempt to return the booster to its launch pad at the company's Starbase facility and capture it with a the giant arms of its "Mechazilla" pad structure. The Starship rocket, meanwhile, will fly on a path that will take it over the Indian Ocean, where SpaceX hopes to perform a smooth reentry and "soft landing" in the ocean.
SpaceX aims for Starship Flight 5 launch on Oct. 13
SpaceX on Friday, Oct. 11, said its next Starship rocket could launch as early as Sunday, Oct. 13, pending final FAA regulatory approvals. Liftoff is targeted for no earlier than 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) on Oct. 13, if the approvals come through in time. A livestream of the launch will be available on this page at launch time.
The upcoming test flight, called Starship Flight 5, will liftoff off from SpaceX's Starbase testing site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas - the same site for four previous Starship launch tests. This flight aims to build on SpaceX's Starship Flight 4 success on June 6, which marked the first Starship to reach space and a smooth "soft" splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico for the rocket's massive Super Heavy booster.
For Flight 5, SpaceX hopes to recreate the success of the Starship vehicle's trajectory to target splashdown site in the Indian Ocean. But in a first, SpaceX will also attempt to return the rocket's massive Super Heavy booster, which is powered by 33 Raptor engines, back to its launch pad. There, SpaceX will attempt to catch the booster in the "chopsticks" of its massive Mechazilla launch pad structure. The system is designed to eventually allow quick turnarounds for Starship Super Heavy boosters for flights.
"Starship stacked ahead of its fifth flight test," SpaceX wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday afternoon (Oct. 11). "We expect regulatory approval in time to fly on October 13."
Starship stacked ahead of its fifth flight test. We expect regulatory approval in time to fly on October 13 pic.twitter.com/HCN4dcm1hZOctober 11, 2024
SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk have said repeatedly that they have been ready to launch Starship Flight 5 since August, but have been held up by FAA reviews and proposed fines related to environmental concerns over the rocket's water deluge system.
Last month, the FAA said it would likely take until November to issue a license for the Starship Flight 5 launch due to additional reviews related to the water deluge system, which FAA officials have required consultation with other regulatory agencies. Meanwhile, SpaceX is also facing potential fines from the FAA amounting to $633,000 related to Falcon 9 rocket launches. SpaceX has bristled at both the Flight 5 Starship delays and the potential fines, threatening to sue the FAA on the latter issue.
"We find ourselves delayed for unreasonable and exasperating reasons," SpaceX wrote in a blog post on Sept. 10. "Unfortunately, we continue to be stuck in a reality where it takes longer to do the government paperwork to license a rocket launch than it does to design and build the actual hardware. This should never happen and directly threatens America's position as the leader in space."
When fully assembled, SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy booster stand about 400 feet (122 m) tall, making it the world's tallest and most powerful rocket. Both the Starship and its Super Heavy booster are designed to be reusable, though the Flight 5 mission does not plan to recover the Starship vehicle.
NASA has picked SpaceX's Starship as the lunar lander for its Artemis 3 mission, which aims to send up to four astronauts to the moon for a crewed landing sometime in 2026. SpaceX has also sold at least one flight Starship to American billionaire Jared Isaacman, with reservations for another Starship trip around the moon. One Starship circumlunar flight reserved by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa was canceled earlier this year.
We will post updates on Starship Flight 5 and subsequent test flights and missions here as events warrant.
Easy solution only returns to Earth.
“We choose to go to the moon… and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are haaard.”
Water? Really they are complaining and delaying the launches over water? Have they ever heard of rain? Also the staging ring dropping into the ocean? It is a SS ring. We have had rockets fall into the ocean for decades. I mean, this is beyond silly.
I mean, wait until the Super Heavy crashes when they try to catch it. Then, hold up the licensing for a launch, they will have a valid reason then. Yes, it is most likely to crash on it's 1st few landing attempts. It will be epic and it part of learning how to catch it.
"...carefully clean and wash.."
And stick it in the dryer at "Delicates" setting. Or just hang it out on the line to dry.
But, clearly, there is still work to do on the reentry phase of the StarShip stage, before it will be ready for a "catch" back at Boca Chica or the Kennedy Spaceflight Center. It will be interesting see how fast SpaceX is able to make progress on that.