SpaceX is about to attempt its most ambitious Starship test flight yet. Here's what to know

SpaceX is preparing for its latest test flight involving the Super Heavy rocket booster and the uncrewed Starship spacecraft. The launch will occur from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas during a 30-minute window starting at 8 a.m. ET. This mission aims for a milestone by attempting to land the 232-foot-tall booster on a large structure using 'chopsticks' after separation from the spacecraft. Starship, meanwhile, will proceed with a landing maneuver over the Indian Ocean but will not be recovered. This process aligns with SpaceX’s ambitions to swiftly reuse rocket components, a key factor in lowering space travel costs.

The upcoming test includes attempts to catch the Super Heavy post-launch, drawing on past experiences with Falcon 9 boosters. Reusable booster technology is part of SpaceX’s strategy to minimize costs, with the Starship system being more advanced than previous models due to its 33 engines and greater thrust. Special tower structures are intended to improve the recovery process efficiency for the Super Heavy.

Testing continues as SpaceX tackles challenges like heat shield loss during reentry, which caused complications on previous flights. Despite these obstacles, the upcoming launch will incorporate updates to the heat shield system, aiming to prevent similar issues. Future successes could support SpaceX in achieving bigger goals, such as orbital refueling, critical for lunar missions expected to begin by 2026. However, setbacks could cause further delays for NASA’s lunar plans and its goal to return humans to the moon for the first time in decades.