Spacex Starship: test flight number 5 in the live stream

The US Federal Aviation Administration FAA gave the go-ahead for takeoff on Saturday: The Starship can take off again.

Today, Sunday, the time has come. There is a 30-minute launch window that opens at 2 p.m. Currently the start is for 14:25 planned, according to SpaceX there are optimal weather conditions.

The test flight will be broadcast live by SpaceX. This one will open Youtube and X around about 13:45 start:

The start takes place again Texas instead of. As with test flight number 4, Starship is scheduled to splash down in the Indian Ocean.

This will be the first time on this test flight “Chopstick maneuver” executed. After Starship has been disconnected, the booster flies back to the launch pad. There it should be caught in the air by 2 gripping arms. SpaceX calls this device Mechazillaalluding to the movie monster MechaGozdilla.

The booster has on return Supersonic speedbefore he brakes. This means there will be a sonic boom in the area, probably several. These should sound something like short thunder noises, says SpaceX.

Previous test flights ended in explosions

At a first start In April 2023, the entire rocket system exploded after just a few minutes. At a second test In November 2023, the two rocket stages separated and the upper one continued to fly, but shortly afterwards both exploded separately.

At a third test Starship reached space for the first time in March, but was also unable to complete the flight as hoped. At a fourth test flight In June, Starship attempted a controlled landing for the first time, but there were problems here too.

To the moon and Mars

The system is designed so that the spacecraft and rocket return to Earth reused can be. The system, which is around 120 meters long, will be well over in the future 100 tons of cargo can transport.

NASA wants to take astronauts to the Starship Mond bring. SpaceX hopes to one day use the system by Mars to come. A colony will then be built on Mars through regular Starship flights.