SpaceX is preparing for the third test flight of its Starship mega-rocket, a crucial step that could support NASA’s plans to send astronauts back to the moon and revolutionize the commercial spaceflight industry.
The launch is scheduled to take place from SpaceX’s Starbase Test Range in Boca Chica, Texas, around 8 a.m. ET, although the timing is subject to change. The company emphasizes that schedules are flexible and can be adjusted.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has granted SpaceX approval to proceed with the test flight after confirming that all safety, environmental, policy, and financial requirements have been met.
This upcoming launch marks the third test flight of the nearly 400-foot-tall rocket. The previous tests encountered challenges, with the first flight ending in an explosion shortly after liftoff in April. The second launch in November achieved significant milestones, but missed the intended contact with the spacecraft.
SpaceX aims to achieve several ambitious goals during the third test flight, building on lessons learned from previous attempts. These goals include igniting one of Starship’s Raptor engines in space, operating the vehicle’s payload door, transferring propellant between its tanks, and demonstrating controlled re-entry into the atmosphere followed by a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
These technology demonstrations are crucial for future missions beyond Earth’s orbit.
Starship is expected to have a significant role in NASA’s plans for lunar exploration. The spacecraft has been selected by the agency to transport astronauts to the moon’s surface as part of the Artemis III mission, set to launch in 2026.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
