SpaceX aims to launch Starship again in 6 to 8 weeks, Elon Musk says
The SpaceX Starship blazed across the sky during its initial trial on April 20, 2023. (The credit for the image goes to PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images.)
The mammoth Starship rocket from SpaceX may be launched again before summer ends.
On April 20, the largest and strongest rocket ever constructed, the fully loaded Starship, took off for its inaugural flight.
The experimental flight took off from SpaceX's Starbase location near the southern region of Texas with the goal of orbiting most of the planet using the upper stage of the Starship craft. However, due to multiple significant malfunctions, the objective was not met. After a few minutes of takeoff, SpaceX initiated a self-destruct command as a result of the issues encountered during the flight.
Since then, supporters of SpaceX have been curious as to when Starship will take off again. Elon Musk, the CEO and founder of the company, recently shared on Twitter yesterday (June 13) that another launch is planned in the next six to eight weeks. This news has given fans something to anticipate.
Discover incredible launch photos of SpaceX's 1st Starship test flight and experience the exciting event once again. This test flight was marked by a stunning explosion, and now you can relive the moment with these incredible photos.
It might be too optimistic to set such a timeline, considering the substantial preparations needed prior to the second flight.
As an instance, the takeoff affected the orbital launch mount at Starbase, causing a sizable indentation under it and launching pieces of solid material through the air, accompanied by an immense amount of dust and other wreckage. Recently, Musk confirmed that SpaceX has been working on a steel plate, cooled by water, that will be placed underneath the mount to stop this incident from happening again.
The business may have to overcome some obstacles from regulators. A group of environmental organizations has filed a lawsuit against the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the entity that granted Starship's permission to launch. They claim that the agency failed to evaluate properly the potential harm that the enormous spacecraft could cause to the environment in South Texas and the people living near Starbase.
It is important to mention that Musk has previously stated a timeline of "six to eight weeks" regarding Starship's next test flight. He shared this information during a conversation on Twitter Spaces about the debut launch on April 29, where he discussed the estimated readiness of Starbase and Starship. However, it's not clear when the actual flight will take place.
The Starship is a very tall spacecraft that is roughly 394 feet (or 120 meters) in height. It is made up of two sections, which are the Super Heavy booster, which is located on the bottom, and the Starship, which is on top and measures around 165 feet (or 50 meters) tall. These two sections have been designed to be completely reusable and as a result, Elon Musk believes this will be a significant advancement for space travel.
NASA has faith in the latest space transportation scheme and has picked Starship as the primary manned lander for their mission to the moon, known as the Artemis program. It's anticipated that Starship will carry NASA astronauts to the moon's surface by 2025, assuming current timelines are maintained, but this is not a guarantee.
Be a part of our Space Forums and continue discussing the most recent space expeditions, night sky observations, and other interesting topics related to space! Additionally, if you have any noteworthy news, a correction to make, or a comment to share, don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].
Get ready for some out-of-this-world news! We've got all the latest updates on rocket launches, stunning skywatching events, and plenty more. Stay up-to-date with all the latest developments in space exploration right here.
Michael Wall is a writer who focuses on space-related topics and has been working at Space.com since 2010. He usually writes about exoplanets, space travel, and military activity in space, but has also written about space art. His latest book, "Out There," was published on November 13, 2018, and is about the search for alien life. Before turning to science writing, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He holds a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona. Michael also has a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California in Santa Cruz. If you want to keep up with Michael's latest projects, you can follow him on Twitter.
