The first test flight of Starship, SpaceX’s most powerful rocket designed for interplanetary missions, is scheduled for Monday at 8:00 a.m.
Central Time (1300 GMT) from the Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. Fallback times are planned later in the week if the launch is postponed, which SpaceX founder Elon Musk has noted is a possibility.
Musk described the flight as “very risky” and acknowledged the complexity of the giant rocket during a live Twitter Spaces event on Sunday.
Elon Musk warned of low expectations for the first test flight of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built by SpaceX, that is designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The spacecraft has been selected by NASA to carry astronauts for the Artemis III mission in 2025, and it comprises a 164-foot spacecraft that sits atop a 230-foot first-stage Super Heavy booster rocket.
The Super Heavy booster is expected to separate from Starship three minutes after launch and land in the Gulf of Mexico. Starship, which has six engines, will complete a near-circle of Earth before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Musk said that even if Starship reaches orbit, it would be a massive success.
Mr. Musk stated that in the long run, which he defines as two or three years, they should achieve full and rapid reusability of the Starship spacecraft. The ultimate aim is to create bases on the Moon and Mars and lead humanity towards becoming a multi-planet civilization.
He believes that this is a unique moment in history where such an accomplishment is achievable, and he is optimistic about their chances.
