SpaceX plans to launch its flagship megarocket Starship for the first time.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to make its first attempt to launch its huge Starship rocket into space, marking what could be an important milestone in the billionaire’s bid to carry astronauts to Mars.
SpaceX is now targeting 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT/8 a.m. CDT) for the launch of its first Starship and Super Heavy booster. The launch webcast is expected to begin at 8:15 a.m. EDT (1215 GMT).
Starship is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. Standing at 119 m tall, it is the tallest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built, and the first intended to be fully reusable. The Starship launch vehicle is made up of the first-stage booster and the Starship second stage.
“I guess I’d like to just set expectations low,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said during a Twitter “Spaces” event for his subscribers Sunday evening. “If we get far enough away from launch pad before something goes wrong, then I think I would consider that to be a success. Just don’t blow up the pad.”
It will be SpaceX’s first attempt to launch a fully assembled Starship vehicle, building on a years-long testing campaign.
SpaceX said on Sunday that the rocket could be launched from its base in Texas during a 90-minute window beginning on Monday. If the rocket is not ready to launch during that window, SpaceX has alternative launch times available later in the week.