SpaceX announced, with a tweet on the X profile, that everything is now ready for the fourth test flight of Starship, the rocket designed to radically transform the future of space exploration with its advanced technology that makes it reusable. The fixed date is Thursday 6 June, and operations will take place from the space base in Texaswith a 120-minute launch window starting at first light, 7 a.m. Central Time.
For all enthusiasts and the curious, it will be possible to follow the test live. The live webcast will begin approximately 30 minutes before liftoff, accessible via the link provided and on channel X @SpaceX. However, the team warns that, as with any development test, the program may undergo changes; therefore, it is recommended to keep an eye on real-time updates on their X account.
The success of the third flight test made a mark a significant turning pointcompleting a series of firsts: from Starship’s first reentry from space to the first opening and closing of the payload door in orbit, to an effective demonstration of propellant transfer. The progress achieved has also provided essential data for future missions such as NASA’s Artemis program to return to the Moon.
The fourth flight test focuses on concretely demonstrating the Starship’s return and reuse capacity than its Super Heavy booster. Primary objectives include performing a controlled landing maneuver and gentle splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as a managed Starship reentry.
To achieve these goals, SpaceX, led by the eccentric and visionary Elon Musk, introduced significant improvements in the rocket’s software and hardware, paving the way for an increase in overall reliability and incorporating lessons learned from the previous flight. Additionally, operational changes will be made, such as separating the Super Heavy’s hot phase after boostback, to unload the booster in the final phase of flight.
The flight path of the fourth test will be similar to that of the previous one, involving a landing of Starship in the Indian Ocean. This route was chosen to maximize public safety without the need for a deorbit maneuver, while still offering the opportunity to achieve the primary objective of a controlled reentry. The ultimate goal is to create a fully reusable transportation system that can carry crews and cargo to Earth’s orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.
