SpaceX is set to launch its massive Starship Super Heavy rocket on its fifth test flight today, marking a pivotal moment in the company's pursuit of a fully reusable launch system.
The mission, dubbed Flight 5, is scheduled to lift off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, during a 30-minute window beginning at 5:30 pm IST.
This test flight aims to push the boundaries of rocket technology with an ambitious manoeuvre never before attempted.
After the Super Heavy booster separates from the Starship upper stage, it will attempt to return to the launch site for a precision landing. In a dramatic twist, SpaceX plans to catch the 232-foot-tall booster using the launch tower's robotic arms, affectionately nicknamed "chopsticks".
WHAT IS SPACEX TRYING TO DO?
The primary goals of Flight 5 include:
Launching the combined Starship and Super Heavy vehicle
Returning the Super Heavy booster to the launch site for a catch attempt
Guiding the Starship upper stage to a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean
SpaceX engineers have invested significant time and resources in preparing for this groundbreaking booster catch attempt. The company emphasises that safety remains paramount, and the return will only be attempted if conditions are favourable.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted SpaceX the necessary launch license on Saturday, following a comprehensive review of safety, environmental, and other regulatory requirements6. This approval came earlier than expected, as previous estimates suggested a November timeframe for the license issuance.
While this is a SpaceX-led mission, NASA is closely monitoring the test flight.
The space agency has selected a variant of Starship for its Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon. Dr. Kent Chojnacki, deputy manager of NASA's Human Landing System program, expressed particular interest in the booster catch attempt, noting its importance for SpaceX's proposed architecture of multiple launches to aggregate propellant in low Earth orbit before lunar missions.
The success of the fifth test flight will be a critical step towards realising the Elon Musk-led company's vision of rapid rocket reusability and interplanetary travel.
