SpaceX is gearing up for its sixth Starship test flight, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the Starbase facility in South Texas. The huge Super Heavy booster that will form the first stage of the Starship rocket was moved to the orbital launch pad on November 14, while the spacecraft, known only as Starship, arrived earlier on November 12. This latest test represents an important step forward in SpaceX’s reusable spaceflight technology, with a 30-minute launch window scheduled to open at 5:00 p.m. EST.
Starship assembly underway at starbase
The company has given this information on its official X handle. The Super Heavy booster, with its 165-foot-long (50 m) Starship upper stage, now awaits integration on the launch pad. SpaceX plans to use the launch tower’s mechanical “chopstick” arms to lift the spacecraft onto the booster, creating a fully stacked configuration about 400 feet long (122 m). This process will create the largest and most powerful rocket currently in development.
test flight objectives
The purpose of this test flight is to extend SpaceX’s progress in demonstrating reusable rocket systems. According to SpaceX, the booster is expected to return to the launch site for recovery via chopstick arms. Meanwhile, the spacecraft will test heatshield upgrades and re-entry maneuvers before landing in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX also plans to restart one of Starship’s Raptor engines in space, a key step toward orbital operations.
Past Successes and Progress
During its fifth test flight on October 13, the booster achieved a historic landing on the launch mount using the tower’s arms while the spacecraft executed a successful splashdown. These milestones were achieved under the leadership of SpaceX Founder and CEO Elon Musk, who continues to advance the development of Starship as part of the company’s long-term goal of interplanetary exploration.
The upcoming flight represents another effort to refine the design and performance of the rocket system, bringing SpaceX closer to making full rocket reuse a reality.
