Starship test flight aimed for June 6: Elon Musk

Starship's fourth test flight has been delayed by a day and is now scheduled to launch at 5:30 pm on June 6 from SpaceX's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas.

 

The reason for the delay has not been disclosed. SpaceX is awaiting launch approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which ensures safe rocket launches in the U.S.

Starship Flight 4, with many improvements, aiming to launch on Thursday!

The main goal of this mission is to get much deeper into the atmosphere during reentry, ideally through max heating. https://t.co/8cE1dTQ9nw

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 2, 2024

 

So far, SpaceX has conducted two launch rehearsals for the fourth flight, with the Super Heavy Booster and the upper stage Ship loaded with 10 million pounds of propellant, simulating launch day conditions.

 

"The fourth flight test shifts our focus from achieving orbit to demonstrating the ability to return and reuse Starship and Super Heavy," an official SpaceX statement said.

 

"The primary objectives include executing a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico with the Super Heavy booster, and achieving a controlled entry of Starship," it added.

 

Starship will follow a similar trajectory to its third flight, with the upper stage ending in the Indian Ocean.

 

This flight path does not require a deorbit burn for reentry, maximizing public safety while providing the opportunity to meet the primary objective of a controlled Starship reentry, according to Space X.