SpaceX has been granted approval for the fourth test flight of its Starship rocket, marking another milestone in the company’s ambitious space exploration endeavors. The upcoming launch, scheduled for Thursday, will see the powerful Starship vehicle take to the skies from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

The Federal Aviation Administration, responsible for licensing commercial rocket launches, has given SpaceX the green light for the test flight after ensuring that all safety and licensing requirements are met. The agency outlined potential scenarios that would not necessitate an investigation in the event of mishaps during the flight.

SpaceX’s focus for this test flight is on demonstrating the capability to return and reuse both the Starship and its Super Heavy booster. The objectives include executing a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico with the booster, as well as achieving a controlled entry of the Starship.

If successful, the Starship is expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean, marking a significant step forward in SpaceX’s efforts to revolutionize space travel. The company has implemented various software and hardware upgrades on the Starship based on lessons learned from previous flights, underscoring its commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.

Space enthusiasts and followers of SpaceX’s progress can tune in to a live stream of the test flight on the company’s website, providing a front-row seat to this exciting chapter in space exploration. As SpaceX pushes the boundaries of what is possible in space technology, each test flight serves as a building block for future missions and advancements in the field.