SpaceX is preparing for a major milestone with the sixth test flight of its Starship rocket, slated to launch on Tuesday from its facility in South Texas, Bloomberg reports.
This test is expected to feature a critical maneuver involving the rocket’s Super Heavy booster and its unique “chopsticks” system — mechanical arms designed to catch the booster in midair. This is a repeat of a groundbreaking attempt made during the previous flight and remains one of the most anticipated moments of the mission.
The launch is set for a 30-minute window beginning at 4 p.m. local time and will see the Starship vehicle soar into space before making a partial orbit of Earth. Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever developed and is at the heart of SpaceX’s ambitious plans to transport humans to the moon and Mars. The rocket is also under contract with NASA to serve as a lunar lander, facilitating the agency’s return to the moon after a 50-year absence.
CEO Elon Musk has positioned Starship as a game-changing vehicle that will revolutionize the aerospace industry. Designed to be fully reusable, the spacecraft aims to drastically reduce launch costs, potentially replacing SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets for missions into orbit. However, achieving full reusability requires SpaceX to perfect its recovery methods, including successfully landing both the Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster.
One of the key challenges is the booster recovery process. After the rocket launches and the Super Heavy booster detaches, the booster returns to the launch pad, slowing itself down for landing. The mechanical arms, or “chopsticks,” are then used to catch the booster midair, preventing it from crashing to the ground. This technique, which was first attempted in the previous test flight, aims to reduce costs and improve the turnaround time for future launches.
The upcoming flight will also test Starship’s updated heat shield as it attempts a fiery re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. SpaceX hopes to better protect the vehicle during its descent and splashdown into the Indian Ocean. Unlike the October test, which took place at night and offered limited visibility, the company expects better daylight conditions during Tuesday’s flight, allowing for clearer observations of the vehicle’s re-entry and landing performance.
In the broader context, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell has expressed optimism about the future of Starship, predicting up to 400 flights within the next four years. Achieving this level of frequency would require SpaceX to perfect its landing and recovery processes to quickly return the rockets to service, much like commercial airliners.
The launch is expected to attract significant attention, including a visit from President-elect Donald Trump, who has been a vocal supporter of Musk and SpaceX in recent months. Trump’s participation follows a series of joint appearances with Musk, including a recent UFC event in New York.
