SpaceX has given a brand new potential date for Starship’s fifth test flight, and it’s before you’d think.
SpaceX has been able to launch Starship for its fifth Integrated Flight Test (IFT-5) since early August. Issues with gaining a license with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have delayed the test launch.
Due to agency’s delays, SpaceX was anticipating the test sometime in November, it said a few month ago.
Nonetheless, things appear to be moving in the proper direction.
In line with a recent posting from the spaceflight company, Starship could take flight on October 13, pending regulatory approval:
SpaceX detailed the objectives for this upcoming test flight, which can attempt groundbreaking recent goals, including attempting the first-ever return to the launch site and catch of the Super Heavy booster.
Elon Musk reveals ambitious SpaceX Starship plans for Mars missions
It is going to also attempt to perform one other Starship reentry and landing burn, which can splash down within the Indian Ocean.
Each sequential Starship test launch has yielded improvements and recent things to construct upon for the subsequent attempt. This is feasible through various hardware and software upgrades, and IFT-5 isn’t any different:
This launch will even feature upgrades to the launch and catch tower infrastructure at Starbase.
It might be massive if SpaceX could manage to acquire regulatory approval to launch Starship for the fifth time this Sunday. Eventually, the rocket will take humans to Mars, but test flights to the Red Planet may have to occur first.
If all goes in response to plan, SpaceX will launch its first flights to Mars using Starship in 2026, with the primary crewed flights in 2028, CEO Elon Musk said recently.
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