SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is gearing up for the fourth launch of the company’s massive Starship rocket, with hopes of perfecting a reusable rocket that will make space more accessible and affordable to all. The launch, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, is scheduled to take place as early as next Wednesday, June 5. The FAA has determined that SpaceX’s previous Starship test, which ended in flames, posed no safety risks to the public, allowing the company to proceed with another test before completing its investigation into the incident.
While the agency has not yet granted the necessary launch license for the upcoming test, approvals for previous tests have typically been received within a day or two of the launch window. The launch window for the fourth test is set to open as early as 7 a.m. Central Time, with SpaceX urging followers to stay updated on social media for any schedule changes. A live webcast of the launch will be available on SpaceX’s website and X channel, @SpaceX, starting around 30 minutes before liftoff. This mission will focus on demonstrating the ability to return and reuse Starship and Super Heavy, including opening and closing the payload door in space for the first time and executing the first reentry from space.
The success of SpaceX’s fourth Starship test is crucial for the future of space exploration, as Starship is designed to play a key role in ferrying cargo and eventually humans to destinations like the moon, Mars, and beyond. The rocket, standing at around 400 feet tall, is seen as a breakthrough in making space more accessible and affordable, opening up opportunities for a broader development of the space economy. Reusability is a central component of this vision, with Musk aiming for Starship to one day carry up to 100 people on interplanetary flights, deliver satellites, and assist in establishing a moon base.
Each of the previous three Starship tests have ended in flames or crashes, but SpaceX considers them successes and has used the lessons learned to improve the rocket for future tests. The company aims to rapidly develop Starship and build a fully reusable transportation system for crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Elon Musk emphasized the importance of overcoming reentry heating during the fourth test flight, noting that creating a fully reusable heat shield has never been achieved before. He believes that with extreme effort, SpaceX could achieve around 100% reusability for Starship, marking a significant milestone in the company’s mission to revolutionize space travel.
