SpaceX is gearing up for the fifth launch of its Starship megarocket, potentially scheduled for October 13, despite the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) repeated indications that the flight test may be postponed until November.
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Starship 5 is preparing to launch as soon as October 13, pending regulatory approval.
Starship flight test 5 will be the fifth flight test of a SpaceX Starship launch vehicle. The prototype vehicles planned to be flown are the Ship 30 upper-stage and Booster 12. This fifth… pic.twitter.com/DH55l4hT0G
— Global𝕏 (@GlobaltrekX) October 9, 2024
The last flight of Starship occurred in June, during which SpaceX successfully achieved its launch goals by safely returning the rocket to Earth and executing a soft landing for both the Starship and its Super Heavy first-stage booster at sea.
The upcoming mission aims to accomplish the unprecedented task of returning the Super Heavy booster to the launch pad, utilizing the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms for a mid-air catch.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, SpaceX announced on the evening of October 7 that “Starship’s fifth flight test is preparing to launch as soon as October 13, pending regulatory approval.”
The phrase “pending regulatory approval” carries significant weight, especially given the FAA’s assessment that clearance for Starship’s fifth integrated flight test (IFT-5) is unlikely before late November 2024. Nevertheless, SpaceX continues to push forward with preparations for the next flight of Starship.
NASA is also keenly interested in the successful development of Starship by SpaceX, as this vehicle has been contracted to transport astronauts to the moon for the Artemis 3 mission, which is currently scheduled for launch in 2026. However, as early as June 2023, NASA officials expressed apprehensions regarding the readiness of Starship for the mission.
Starship’s fifth flight test is preparing to launch as soon as October 13, pending regulatory approval → https://t.co/hibmw2lVv1 pic.twitter.com/Suw1kKLHiE
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 7, 2024
To obtain NASA’s endorsement, Starship must adhere to rigorous qualification criteria and successfully execute multiple flights, including an uncrewed mission to the lunar surface and a return journey.
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