SpaceX on the third flight test of Starship is targeted to launch Thursday, March 14. The 110-minute test window opens at 7:00 a.m. CT.
There will be a live webcast of the Starship test flight starting around half an hour before liftoff. You can watch it on our channels and the official SpaceX account. Keep in mind that this is a developmental test, so the schedule might change. Follow our social media for the latest updates.
The previous Starship flight achieved significant goals and provided crucial data for ongoing development. These test flights are real-world experiments, not simulations, pushing the boundaries of Starship’s capabilities.
Building on those learnings, the third test flight has even more ambitious aims. These include successfully firing both stages’ engines, operating Starship’s payload door, transferring fuel during the upper stage’s coasting phase, reigniting a Raptor engine in space for the first time, and achieving a controlled reentry for Starship. It will also follow a new trajectory, targeting a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This path allows for novel maneuvers like in-space engine burns, all while prioritizing public safety.
This rapid, iterative approach has been key to SpaceX’s past innovations like Falcon, Dragon, and Starlink. Continuous improvement is crucial as we build a completely reusable launch system capable of carrying people and cargo to orbit, supporting humanity’s return to the Moon, and ultimately enabling journeys to Mars and beyond.
The flight is the rocket’s third and most ambitious such test, according to SpaceX. The event is being closely watched because the nearly 400-foot-tall booster, known as Starship, is expected to play an important part in NASA’s return-to-the-moon program.