SpaceX to send off biggest-ever Starship into orbit

The American space technology firm SpaceX is gearing up for the sixth test flight of its Starship spacecraft, which will be launched by the Super Heavy booster — the largest rocket ever constructed in the world.

The company is set for the sixth test flight of its Starship rocket on November 18, with a 30-minute launch window opening at 4:00 p.m. CT. A live webcast will begin 30 minutes before liftoff, available on SpaceX's website, X (@SpaceX), and the X TV app. The schedule may change, so viewers are advised to check for updates, Caliber.Az reports per SpaceX's official website.

The fifth flight test marked a significant milestone in the development of a fully reusable launch system. The Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch site and was caught by the Starbase launch tower’s chopstick arms. Meanwhile, Starship’s upper stage completed a controlled re-entry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

The upcoming test will build on this success, with objectives including another booster catch, reigniting a Raptor engine in space, and testing new heatshield materials and manoeuvring capabilities for re-entry and descent. SpaceX has made several hardware upgrades, including added redundancy to the booster’s propulsion system, enhanced structural integrity, and faster propellant offloading following a successful catch. Mission software and criteria for the booster’s return have also been updated.

The returning booster will create sonic booms as it decelerates, typically heard as brief thunder-like sounds. Starship’s upper stage will follow the same suborbital trajectory as its previous test, with a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. A key objective will be conducting an in-space burn using a single Raptor engine, demonstrating the capabilities needed for orbital deorbit burns.

This flight will also test new thermal protection systems, including removing sections of heat shield tiles and experimenting with higher angles of descent to stress the flap control system. The launch’s late afternoon timing will provide daylight conditions for visual observations of re-entry.

Future Starships, beginning with the seventh flight test, will feature significant upgrades, including redesigned forward flaps, larger propellant tanks, and advanced heat shield materials, as SpaceX moves closer to achieving full and rapid reusability.

Starship is a two-stage fully reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by American aerospace company SpaceX. On April 20, 2023, with the first Integrated Flight Test, Starship became the most massive and most powerful vehicle ever to fly.

By Khagan Isayev