SpaceX says its 2nd Starship test flight could launch on Nov. 17
SpaceX is targeting a launch window of November 17-28 for the second test flight of its Starship spacecraft, the company announced on Tuesday. The launch will take place from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, and will send the Starship to an altitude of about 100 miles before it returns to Earth for a controlled landing.
The second Starship test flight is a critical milestone for SpaceX as it develops the spacecraft that it plans to use to carry people and cargo to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The first test flight, which took place in May 2022, was a success, but the spacecraft exploded shortly after landing. SpaceX has since made a number of changes to the Starship design to improve its reliability.
The upcoming test flight will test several new features of the Starship, including a hot-stage separation system and a new electronic thrust vector control (TVC) system for the Super Heavy booster. SpaceX has also reinforced the pad foundation at Starbase and installed a water-cooled steel flame deflector to protect the launch pad from the heat of the rocket's engines.
SpaceX is still waiting for approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to launch the Starship. The FAA is conducting an environmental assessment of the launch and is expected to make a decision by November 14.
If the FAA approves the launch, SpaceX will be able to proceed with the second Starship test flight. The launch window will open on November 17 and will remain open for two weeks. SpaceX will have the flexibility to choose the exact launch date based on weather conditions and other factors.
The second Starship test flight is a major event for SpaceX and for the space industry as a whole. If the test flight is successful, it will be a major step forward in the development of the Starship and will bring SpaceX closer to its goal of making human spaceflight more affordable and accessible.