New version of Starship rocket ready for critical test flight
The new rocket features a host of upgrades intended to improve safety and performance of the world's most powerful rocket.
A new version of SpaceX's mammoth Starship rocket, featuring multiple upgrades, more powerful engines and major safety enhancements is poised for blastoff Thursday in a critical milestone for Elon Musk's rocket company.
It's also a critical mission for NASA, which is counting on SpaceX to develop and deliver a flight-tested, human-rated version of the Starship upper stage to carry Artemis astronauts from lunar orbit to the moon's surface and back before the end of 2028.
With dozens of successful test flights required between now and then, NASA is hedging its bets, working with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to develop an alternative lander.
The agency's Artemis III mission late next year will test rendezvous and docking procedures in low-Earth orbit using one or both landers, depending on their readiness. NASA wants to test those procedures close to home before pressing ahead with a moon landing in the Artemis IV mission.
But first, SpaceX must perfect the Super Heavy-Starship launch system after 11 test flights marked by impressive successes and spectacular failures. The company says the debut of the "version 3" Starship this week will open a new chapter in the rocket's development.
Using a new, beefed-up pad at SpaceX's "Starbase" launch site on the Texas Gulf coast, the 12th integrated test flight of a Super Heavy-Starship rocket is set for blastoff at 6:30 p.m. ET Thursday, weather permitting. High winds and rain were blamed for two launch delays earlier this week.