by SpaceX is set to launch its Starship rocket in a massive test of Elon Musk’s ambitions to send humans to Mars.
The third test flight of the world’s largest rocket will lift off from a launch pad at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday morning.
SpaceX shared pictures of the fully stacked rocket system, which measures about 120 meters tall, on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
Two previous attempts to fly the uncrewed rocket from Texas to Hawaii ended in high-altitude explosions. In the third launch another route will be attempted, with a splash site in the Indian Ocean.
“All of these flight tests are always that: a test,” SpaceX said before the Starship launch attempt. “They’re not happening in a lab or on a test stand, but they’re putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximize learning.”
You can follow all the latest news, analysis and updates – as well as watch a live stream when available – in our live coverage below.
Live starship launch: What would be considered a success?
21:04 , Anthony Cuthbertson
SpaceX will be hoping it’s third time lucky for this Starship launch, although it’s far from certain that the largest rocket ever built will make it off the launch pad.
Test launches of earlier prototypes, which did not include the Super Heavy booster rocket, often ended in fiery explosions. It’s still early days for Starship testing, with Elon Musk giving Starship Flight 3 a 70-80 percent chance of reaching orbit.
We heard from Chad Anderson, managing partner of SpaceX investor Space Capital, who tells us what he would consider successful for this test launch.
“If they can achieve orbit on the third flight, the company will be a huge success,” he says. The Independent.
“SpaceX wants to demonstrate Starship’s basic flight capabilities so it can move into a more operational phase of the rocket. The company wants to start deploying more Starlink satellites from the vehicle this year, which will enable direct Internet connectivity to mobile phones.
“With upgraded hardware and flight software, this flight has a reasonable chance of success. What I will be looking for is nominal first stage performance, successful separation of Starship from the first stage using ‘hot staging’ (meaning engine ignition while the first stage is still firing its engines), and Starship removing out orbital velocity. If those things happen, I’d say this test flight will be a success.”
Live starship launch: Residents of Boca Chica receive an evacuation notice
19:54 , Anthony Cuthbertson
A reliable indicator that a launch attempt is imminent is the evacuation notices sent to Boca Chica residents prior to any significant Starship activity.
These were sent out this afternoon, according to X user @BocaChicaGirl, who is one of Boca Chica’s last remaining residents and a consistent source of inside information.
“I have been informed that Village evacuation is a GO for tomorrow’s launch attempt,” she previously posted to X, Twitter.
Starship launch live: SpaceX shares images of fully loaded rocket
19:48 , Anthony Cuthbertson
SpaceX has shared two images of the Starship rocket system fully stacked on a launch pad at its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
The firm has also provided details on what to expect from tomorrow’s launch attempt. If all goes as planned, here’s what will happen:
The third flight test aims to build on what we have learned from previous flights while attempting a number of ambitious objectives, including a successful burn of both stages, opening and closing of the Starship’s payload door, demonstration of propellant transfer during the coastal phase of the upper stage. , the first ever re-lighting of a Raptor engine in space, and a controlled re-entry of a Starship. It will also fly a new trajectory, with Starship aimed to splash in the Indian Ocean. This new flight path enables us to take on new techniques such as engine combustion in space and maximize public safety.
This rapid, iterative development approach has been the foundation of SpaceX’s major innovative breakthroughs, including Falcon, Dragon, and Starlink. Iterative improvement is essential as we work to build a fully reusable transportation system that can carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, help humanity return to the Moon, and ultimately travel to Mars and beyond further away.
SpaceX
Hello and welcome…
19:43 , Anthony Cuthbertson
To The Independents live coverage of SpaceX’s Starship launch attempt.
The launch window is expected to open at 8 am EST (12 pm GMT) on Thursday, March 14.
SpaceX has set up a live stream on X, which will go live 30 minutes before that launch window opens.
We’ll have a live feed here as soon as it’s up. Until then we’ll have all the latest news and analysis for this crucial test of the world’s largest rocket.
