SpaceX is set to launch its Starship rocket in a huge test of Elon Musk’s ambitions to send humans to Mars.
The third test flight of the world’s biggest rocket will see it lift off from a launchpad at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday morning.
SpaceX shared pictures of the fully stacked rocket system, which measures roughly 120 metres in height, on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.
Two previous attempts to fly the uncrewed rocket from Texas to Hawaii both ended in high-altitude explosions. The third launch will see a different route attempted, with a splashdown site in the Indian Ocean.
“Each of these flight tests continue to be just that: a test,” SpaceX said ahead of the Starship launch attempt. “They aren’t occurring in a lab or on a test stand, but are putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximise learning.”
You can follow all the latest news, analysis and updates – as well as watch a live stream when it’s available – in our live coverage below.
Key points
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What to expect from Starship launch
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What would be considered a success from test flight?
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How to watch live stream of today’s Starship launch attempt
Starship launch live: How big is SpaceX’s mega rocket?
10:55 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Measuring roughly 120 metres tall when its two parts are stacked on top of each other, Starship is the biggest rocket ever built. For reference, the tower of Big Ben in London is only 96 metres tall.
With its 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster, and a further six engines on the upper stage, Starhip is also the world’s most powerful rocket.
Here’s how it compares to other rockets thoughout history, including SpaceX’s own Falcon Heavy:
Starship launch live: Boca Chica evacuated
10:35 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Launch preparations are going as expected, with residents of nearby Boca Chica village evacuated. This is standard procedure for any major test of SpaceX’s Starship rocket, due to the potential for property damage or injury for anything or anyone within the vicinity of the 33 Raptor engines of the Super Heavy booster as they fire up.
The first flight test of the fully-stacked Starship rocket saw debris from the destroyed launchpad rain down across a 5-mile (8-kilometre) radius.
Starship launch live: How SpaceX normalised rocket launches
10:13 , Anthony Cuthbertson
We’re less than three hours away from a potential launch attempt, with the window set to open at 7am local time (12 pm GMT).
It’s the third launch attempt of a fully-stacked Starship rocket, with Elon Musk saying that there could be up to six more attempts this year. Eventually, SpaceX plans to build an entire fleet of these giant rockets, capable of launching within hours of each other.
It may seem like a far-off prospect, but the rate at which SpaceX has ramped up launches of its other reusable rockets is astonishing. Last year saw 96 launches of the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy – up from just three launches a decade ago.
I watched one of those launches on a trip to Cape Canaveral last year, where I spoke to people from the company, industry experts and local residents to learn how SpaceX managed to normalise rocket launches. You can read it here if you’re interested:
‘It’s becoming like an airport’: How SpaceX normalised rocket launches
Starship launch live: Watch the last launch
09:31 , Anthony Cuthbertson
It’s been almost exactly four months since SpaceX last launched its Starship rocket. While it wasn’t a complete success – both parts of the rocket were eventually lost – it did still manage to make it off the launchpad in south Texas. This is a huge technical feat, given the fully-stacked Starship rocket system is the biggest rocket ever built.
SpaceX boss Elon Musk has given today’s uncrewed mission a 70-80 per cent chance of making it to orbit. This still leaves a lot of room for things to go wrong, though it’s better than the odds he gave for the last launch, which he put at <50 per cent.
You can watch a video of November’s launch here (Skip to 13 minutes for the 30 second countdown).
Starship launch live: How to watch today’s test flight
09:17 , Anthony Cuthbertson
SpaceX will be sharing an official live stream of today’s Starship launch attempt, which should appear around 30 minutes before lift off – currently scheduled for 7am local time (12 pm GMT).
We’ll have the feed embedded here at the top of the blog as soon as it’s available. SpaceX used to post the live streams of its rocket launches on YouTube, however since Elon Musk took over Twitter, now X, they have been appearing exclusively there.
Starship launch live: Elon Musk confirms attempt will be today
08:18 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Elon Musk is up very early (or very late) to confirm that SpaceX will be attempting to launch Starship later today. Lift off is scheduled for around 7 am local time, or midday if you’re reading this in the UK.
The SpaceX boss is most likely at the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, as he has been for other major tests of the Mars-bound craft. A lot is riding on today’s test for Musk, including multi-billionaire contracts with Nasa that require a functional Starship for the US space agency’s Artemis mission.
Beyond that, the centibillionaire is hoping to travel to Mars in his lifetime aboard a Starship rocket, so any major failures in the tests could push back the date of any potential trip.
Upgrades made by SpaceX for current test launch
08:00 , Vishwam Sankaran
The US FAA required SpaceX to complete 17 corrective actions following the failure of the previous test launch.
These recommended changes included hardware redesigns, updates to engine-control algorithms as well as the installation of fire protection measures.
In the previous launch attempt, SpaceX made upgrades to the launchpad.
This included a water suppression system to help the rocket survive the violent takeoff, which proved effective and is scheduled in the upcoming test to engage about 10 seconds before liftoff.
“Each of these flight tests continues to be just that: a test. They aren’t occurring in a lab or on a test stand but are putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximize learning,” SpaceX said in a statement.
SpaceX to attempt key Nasa-funded technique in Starship test launch
07:00 , Vishwam Sankaran
As part of its $53m contract with Nasa, SpaceX would attempt an inaugural attempt at in-flight propellant transfer in the test launch today that could find use in future deep space missions.
In the upcoming Starship launch test, SpaceX is set to transfer some 10 metric tons of liquid oxygen from one tank to another when the rocket’s upper stage is in its coasting phase.
The test would see SpaceX use Starship tankers for in-orbit propellant transfer – an approach similar to aerial refueling.
Such a feat has never before been accomplished on this scale.
“The third flight test aims to build on what we’ve learned from previous flights while attempting a number of ambitious objectives, including the successful ascent burn of both stages, opening and closing Starship’s payload door, a propellant transfer demonstration during the… https://t.co/cBSeiN8TvE
— Christian Davenport (@wapodavenport) March 6, 2024
This test would provide insights for a potential larger vehicle-to-vehicle fuel transfer, which is seen as a key capability needed to carry Nasa’s Artemis astronauts to the Moon.
“The third flight test aims to build on what we’ve learned from previous flights while attempting a number of ambitious objectives, including the successful ascent burn of both stages, opening and closing Starship’s payload door, a propellant transfer demonstration during the upper stage’s coast phase,” SpaceX noted in a blog post ahead of the launch.
What SpaceX aims to achieve in Starship launch test
06:00 , Vishwam Sankaran
The towering SpaceX Starship rocket will be flown further in today’s anticipated test than its first two trials.
SpaceX also plans to reignite the rocket’s upper stage engine and open its payload door in space.
Unlike the last two tests that failed and were planned for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, today’s test flight would launch on a trajectory bound for the Indian Ocean.
The SpaceX mission description says Starship’s upper stage is expected to splash down about 65 minutes after Thursday’s launch.
“The third flight test aims to build on what we’ve learned from previous flights while attempting a number of ambitious objectives, including the successful ascent burn of both stages, opening and closing Starship’s payload door, a propellant transfer demonstration during the upper stage’s coast phase, the first ever re-light of a Raptor engine while in space, and a controlled reentry of Starship,” SpaceX noted in a blog post.
Why first two Starship launch attempts failed
05:00 , Vishwam Sankaran
The first two launch attempts of its pioneering Starship rocket by SpaceX in April and November 2023 failed.
In the April launch test, the rocket never reached space and was intentionally destroyed after its two stages failed to separate.
While in the November attempt, the rocket managed to reach space, it did not get to its target altitude.
In this test, the Super Heavy booster separated successfully from the Starship upper stage, but both were eventually destroyed shortly after stage separation.
SpaceX blamed filter blockage for the destruction of the Super Heavy booster, and leaking liquid oxygen was found to be the cause of the upper stage failure.
FAA investigation identified 17 corrective actions required by SpaceX ahead of its third test.
Launch schedule ‘dynamic and likely to change,’ SpaceX says
04:00 , Vishwam Sankaran
While SpaceX is targeting a 110 minute launch window opening at 7.00am CT for the third test launch of its Starship rocket, the company says this schedule is “dynamic and likely to change.”
“Starship flight 3 maybe tomorrow,” SpaceX boss Elon Musk posted on X.
The main aim of the test is to get Starship, the world’s tallest and most powerful rocket, into orbit for the first time.
“It will also fly a new trajectory, with Starship targeted to splashdown in the Indian Ocean,” SpaceX noted.
“This new flight path enables us to attempt new techniques like in-space engine burns while maximizing public safety,” the company said.
FAA gives nod for SpaceX Starship test flight
02:52 , Vishwam Sankaran
The US Federal Aviation Administration green lit SpaceX’s test launch of its Starship rocket system from Texas yesterday, paving the way for the Elon Musk-owned company to prove its capabilities in safely taking Nasa astronauts to the Moon.
“The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements,” the FAA said.
The Starship vehicle and its Super Heavy booster are the world’s tallest and most powerful rocket.
This is SpaceX’s third attempt to prove that Starship can reach orbit after it failed to do so in two previous attempts last April and November.
FAA’s nod comes about 24 hours ahead of anticipated test launch during a window between 7am to 8.51am CDT (12.00pm to 1.51pm GMT) on Thursday from SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility in Texas.
“Starship flight 3 maybe tomorrow,” SpaceX chief Elon Musk posted on X.
Starship launch live: What to expect from 65-minute flight
Wednesday 13 March 2024 22:15 , Anthony Cuthbertson
Unlike the previous two flight tests of the fully-stacked Starship, this rocket is aiming for the Indian Ocean rather than the Pacific.
SpaceX is wanting to test out different capabilities this time around, which will cut the expected flight time from 90 minutes to just 65 minutes. It’s worth remembering that neither of the previous two attempts lasted longer than 5 minutes, so this all might be irrelevant.
Should all go to plan, it should look something like this:
HR/MIN/SEC EVENT
00:00:02 Liftoff
00:00:52 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:42 Booster MECO (most engines cut off)
00:02:44 Hot-staging (Starship Raptor ignition and stage separation)
00:02:55 Booster boostback burn startup
00:03:50 Booster boostback burn shutdown
00:06:36 Booster is transonic
00:06:46 Booster landing burn startup
00:07:04 Booster landing burn shutdown
00:08:35 Starship engine cutoff
00:11:56 Payload door open
00:24:31 Propellant transfer demo
00:28:21 Payload door close
00:40:46 Raptor in-space relight demo
00:49:05 Starship entry
01:02:16 Starship is transonic
01:03:04 Starship is subsonic
01:04:39 Splashdown
Starship launch live: What would be considered a success?
Wednesday 13 March 2024 21:04 , Anthony Cuthbertson
SpaceX will be hoping it’s third time lucky for this Starship launch, though it’s far from certain that the biggest rocket ever built will even make it off the launchpad.
Test launches of earlier prototypes, which didn’t include the Super Heavy booster rocket, often ended in fiery explosions. This is still early days for Starship testing, with Elon Musk giving Starship Flight 3 a 70-80 per cent chance of reaching orbit.
We’ve heard from Chad Anderson, a managing partner of SpaceX investor Space Capital, who tells us what he would consider a success for this test launch.
“If they can actually reach orbit on the third flight, it will be an astounding success for the company,” he tells The Independent.
“SpaceX is seeking to demonstrate the basic flight capabilities of Starship so that it can move into a more operational phase of the rocket. The company wants to begin deploying larger Starlink satellites from the vehicle this year, which will enable direct-to-cell phone Internet connectivity.
“With upgraded hardware and flight software, this flight likely has a reasonable chance of success. What I’ll 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 reaching an orbital velocity. If those things happen, I would call this test flight a success.”
Starship launch live: Boca Chica residents receive evacuation notice
Wednesday 13 March 2024 19:54 , Anthony Cuthbertson
A reliable indicator that a launch attempt is imminent is the evacuation notices sent to residents of Boca Chica ahead of any significant Starship activity.
These have been sent out this evening, according to X user @BocaChicaGirl, who is one of the last remaining residents of Boca Chica and a consistent source of inside info.
“I have been notified that Village evacuation is a GO for launch attempt tomorrow,” she posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Starship launch live: SpaceX shares images of fully stacked rocket
Wednesday 13 March 2024 19:48 , Anthony Cuthbertson
SpaceX has shared two images of the Starship rocket system fully stacked on a launchpad at its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
The firm has also provided details about what to expect for tomorrow’s launch attempt. If all goes to plan, here’s what will happen:
The third flight test aims to build on what we’ve learned from previous flights while attempting a number of ambitious objectives, including the successful ascent burn of both stages, opening and closing Starship’s payload door, a propellant transfer demonstration during the upper stage’s coast phase, the first ever re-light of a Raptor engine while in space, and a controlled reentry of Starship. It will also fly a new trajectory, with Starship targeted to splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This new flight path enables us to attempt new techniques like in-space engine burns while maximizing public safety.
This rapid iterative development approach has been the basis for all of SpaceX’s major innovative advancements, including Falcon, Dragon, and Starlink. Recursive improvement is essential as we work to build a fully reusable transportation system capable of carrying both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, help humanity return to the Moon, and ultimately travel to Mars and beyond.
SpaceX
Hello and welcome…
Wednesday 13 March 2024 19:43 , Anthony Cuthbertson
To The Independent’s live coverage of SpaceX attempted launch of Starship.
The launch window is expected to open at 8 am EST (12 pm GMT) on Thursday, 14 March.
SpaceX has set up a live stream on X, which is set to go live 30 minutes before that launch window opens.
We’ll have a live feed right 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 biggest rocket.
