SpaceX is once again gearing up for the inaugural test flight of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever created and the vehicle that could one day return astronauts to the moon or — perhaps — propel the first trip to Mars.
The rocket could lift off as soon as Thursday, during an hour-long launch window that opens at 8:28 a.m. CT . The vehicle is already in position at SpaceX’s privately owned spaceport on the southern tip of Texas. SpaceX will livestream the launch on its website beginning about 45 minutes prior to liftoff. The effort will mark the second launch attempt for Starship. The first, on Monday, came to a halt after a problem with a valve created pressurization issues.
’s Space Launch System took flight last year, Musk foresaw only a 50-50 chance of success. “People from all around the world to see what will either be a great rocket launch or the best fireworks display they’ve ever seen,” Musk told CNN at the time. The inaugural Falcon Heavy launch in 2018 was ultimately successful. It’s common for first-time launches to be delayed as engineers hash out issues that might not have become apparent during prior testing.
’s SLS rocket, for example, underwent four tries to complete a wet dress rehearsal and two launch attempts before the vehicle finally took off in November 2022.
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