SpaceX has given a new potential date for the fifth Starship test flight, and it’s closer than you think.
SpaceX has been ready to launch Starship on Integrated Flight Test-5 (IFT-5) since early August. Issues with obtaining authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) delayed the test launch.
Because of agency delays, SpaceX was expecting the test sometime in November, it said about a month ago.
However, things seem to be moving in the right direction.
According to a recent post from the spaceflight company, the spacecraft could make a flight on October 13, pending regulatory approval:
“The fifth flight test of the Starship vehicle could be launched on October 13, pending regulatory approval.”
SpaceX has detailed the goals of this upcoming test flight, which will attempt groundbreaking new goals, including attempting the first-ever return to a launch site and capturing a Super Heavy booster.
Elon Musk reveals SpaceX Starship’s ambitious plans for Mars missions
It will also attempt another re-entry and landing of the spacecraft, which will land in the Indian Ocean.
Each serial test launch of Starship led to improvements and new things to build upon in the next attempt. This is possible through various hardware and software upgrades, and IFT-5 is no different:
“One of the major upgrades made to the Starship prior to flight was a complete rework of its heat shield, with SpaceX technicians spending more than 12,000 hours replacing the entire thermal protection system with newer generation tiles, a backup backing layer, and additional protection between the cover structures. This massive effort, along with updates to the ship’s operations and its re-entry and landing software, improved the previous flight and brought the spacecraft to a smooth landing in the target area in the Indian Ocean.
This launch will also include upgrades to Starbase’s launch and capture tower infrastructure.
It will be huge if SpaceX can get regulatory approval to launch Starship for a fifth time this Sunday. Eventually, the rocket will take humans to Mars, but test flights to the Red Planet must take place first.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently said that if all goes according to plan, SpaceX will launch its first flights to Mars using Starship in 2026, with the first crewed flights in 2028.
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