SpaceX has scheduled the fourth flight test of Starship for Thursday, June 6, at Starbase in Texas. The test window opens at 7:00 a.m. CT, with a live webcast starting about 30 minutes before liftoff. Following the successful third flight, this test shifts focus towards improving the reusability of the Starship and Super Heavy booster.
Key objectives include a landing burn and a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico for the Super Heavy. Starship will perform a controlled reentry. These steps are crucial for developing reusable rocket technology, essential for cost-effective space travel.
Upgrades have been made to the Starship’s software and hardware, enhancing reliability. Changes in operations will also occur, including the jettisoning of the Super Heavy’s hot-stage to reduce mass. This adjustment aids in a smoother final flight phase.
Starship’s flight path will mirror the previous test, targeting a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This route maximizes safety and still achieves the mission’s primary goals. The countdown to launch includes detailed timelines for fuel loading and system checks. These are designed to ensure all systems are go for the test.
The launch sequence includes fueling with liquid methane and oxygen, booster fueling, and chilling of the Raptor engines. These preparations lead to the final moments before launch, ensuring each system functions perfectly.
As SpaceX advances its technology, this fourth Starship test is pivotal. It moves us closer to a future of sustainable space travel. The mission will help establish a reusable transportation system for missions to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
For real-time updates and the thrill of cutting-edge space technology, tune into the SpaceX webcast on X.
Launch Schedule Countdown
All times approximate:
| HR/MIN/SEC | EVENT |
|---|---|
| 01:15:00 | SpaceX Flight Director conducts poll and verifies GO for propellant load |
| 00:49:00 | Ship fuel (liquid methane) load underway |
| 00:47:00 | Ship LOX (liquid oxygen) load underway |
| 00:40:00 | Booster fuel load underway |
| 00:37:00 | Booster LOX load underway |
| 00:19:40 | Raptor begins engine chill on booster and ship |
| 00:03:20 | Ship propellant load complete |
| 00:02:50 | Booster propellant load complete |
| 00:00:30 | SpaceX flight director verifies GO for launch |
| 00:00:10 | Flame deflector activation |
| 00:00:03 | Raptor ignition sequence begins |
| 00:00:00 | Excitement guaranteed |
Flight Test Timeline
All Times Approximate
| HR/MIN/SEC | EVENT |
|---|---|
| 00:00:02 | Liftoff |
| 00:01:02 | Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) |
| 00:02:41 | Super Heavy MECO (most engines cut off) |
| 00:02:45 | Hot-staging (Starship Raptor ignition and stage separation) |
| 00:02:49 | Super Heavy boostback burn startup |
| 00:03:52 | Super Heavy boostback burn shutdown |
| 00:03:54 | Hot-stage jettison |
| 00:06:39 | Super Heavy is transonic |
| 00:06:43 | Super Heavy landing burn startup |
| 00:07:04 | Super Heavy landing burn shutdown |
| 00:08:23 | Starship engine cutoff |
| 00:47:25 | Starship entry |
| 01:03:11 | Starship is transonic |
| 01:04:01 | Starship is subsonic |
| 01:05:38 | Landing flip |
| 01:05:43 | Landing burn |
| 01:05:48 | An exciting landing! |
