SpaceX is gearing up for the highly anticipated third orbital test of its Starship rocket, set to take place on March 14. The event, which will be streamed online, is expected to showcase the massive 400-foot-tall megarocket’s capabilities and advancements in space exploration technology.
The Starship rocket, towering over 400 feet, is composed of a stainless steel, reusable upper stage known as ‘Starship’ and a Super Heavy first-stage booster. This impressive rocket is hailed as the largest and most powerful ever built, with the ultimate goal of facilitating missions to the moon and eventually Mars, as well as potentially establishing settlements on other planets.
SpaceX has announced that the launch window will be 110 minutes long, opening at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), with the liftoff now targeted for 9:25 a.m. EDT (1325 GMT). The company will provide a livestream of the event starting at 8:52 a.m. EDT (1252 GMT) for enthusiasts to watch the historic test flight.
The upcoming test aims to build on the knowledge gained from previous flights and will undertake several 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. Additionally, the rocket will follow a new trajectory, targeting a splashdown in the Indian Ocean, enabling the exploration of new techniques while prioritizing public safety.
Enthusiasts who are unable to witness the Starship launch in person can still partake in the excitement by accessing the livestream online. SpaceX is committed to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and advancing the possibilities of human space travel, and the upcoming test flight is poised to be a significant milestone in this endeavor.