SpaceX’s Starship Booster heads to the launch pad for testing on November 19
SpaceX is ready for its sixth Starship test flight, scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, at the Starbase facility in South Texas. The massive Super Heavy booster, which formed the first stage of the Starship rocket, was transported to the orbital launch pad on November 14, while the spacecraft itself, known simply as Starship, arrived earlier on November 12. This latest test represents a critical step in advancing SpaceX’s reusable spaceflight technology, with a 30-minute launch period beginning at 5:00 PM EST.
Spaceship assembly underway at Starbase
The company revealed this information on the official X-handle. The Super Heavy booster, along with its 160-foot-tall (50-meter) spaceship upper stage, now awaits integration onto the launch pad. SpaceX plans to use the launch tower’s mechanical “chopsticks” arms to lift the spacecraft onto the booster, creating a fully stacked configuration nearly 400 feet (122 meters) tall. This process will create the largest and most powerful rocket currently in development.
Objectives of the test flight
This test flight aims to expand SpaceX’s progress in demonstrating reusable rocket systems. According to SpaceX, the booster is expected to return to the launch site via the chopstick arms for recovery. The spacecraft, meanwhile, will test heat shield upgrades and reentry maneuvers before descending into the Indian Ocean. SpaceX also plans to revive one of Starship’s Raptor engines in space, a crucial step toward orbital operations.
Past successes and progress
During its fifth test flight on October 13, the booster achieved a historic landing at the launch pad using the tower’s arms as the spacecraft performed a successful landing. These milestones were achieved under the leadership of SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, who continues to advance Starship’s development as part of the company’s long-term goal of interplanetary exploration.
The upcoming flight represents another effort to refine the design and performance of the rocket systems, bringing SpaceX closer to achieving full rocket reuse.
