SpaceX is getting ready to launch its third Starship test flight, which could happen as soon as March 14, pending regulatory approval. Starship is the company’s ambitious reusable rocket system that aims to eventually carry humans and cargo to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
The third test flight will involve the Starship upper stage, also known as Starship, and the Super Heavy first-stage booster, which together stand over 400 feet tall (122 meters).
The previous two test flights, which took place in April and November 2023, ended in spectacular explosions. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that the company has made improvements to the Starship design and software, and hopes to achieve a successful landing this time.Â
SpaceX recently performed a critical fueling test on March 4, in which it loaded over 10 million pounds of liquid methane and liquid oxygen into the Starship and Super Heavy stages.
Musk posted photos of the test on X, a social media platform, and announced that Starship Flight 3 was preparing for launch SpaceX has not yet received the necessary approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct the test flight, as the agency is still reviewing the environmental impact and safety of the Starship program.
SpaceX will livestream the third Starship test flight on X, courtesy of SpaceX. The exact date and time of the launch will depend on the weather, technical readiness, and regulatory clearance.