SpaceX is gearing up for an exciting first flight test of its fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy rocket from Starbase in Texas. The launch window opens at 8:28 a.m. CT on Thursday, April 20, and closes at 9:30 a.m. CT. This test is a significant milestone for SpaceX, as the Starship is a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond.
Success for this test will be measured by how much the team can learn, which will inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances development of Starship. The team has already completed multiple sub-orbital flight tests of Starship’s upper stage from Starbase, successfully demonstrating an unprecedented approach to controlled flight. These flight tests helped validate the vehicle’s design, proving Starship can fly through the subsonic phase of entry before re-lighting its engines and flipping itself to a vertical configuration for landing.
The team has also conducted numerous tests of the Super Heavy rocket, including increasingly complex static fires that led to a full-duration 31 Raptor engine test – the largest number of simultaneous rocket engine ignitions in history. The team has also constructed the world’s tallest rocket launch and catch tower, which is designed to support vehicle integration, launch, and catch of the Super Heavy rocket booster.
For the first flight test, the team will not attempt a vertical landing of Starship or a catch of the Super Heavy booster. However, a live webcast of the flight test will begin approximately 45 minutes before liftoff. As with all developmental testing, this schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to stay tuned to SpaceX’s social media channels for updates.
As we venture into new territory, SpaceX continues to appreciate all of the support and encouragement they have received from those who share their vision of a future where humanity is out exploring among the stars!
