SpaceX could launch and catch massive Starship this Sunday

UPDATE: On Saturday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved a licence for the launch of SpaceX's Starship 5, set for as early as Sunday. The FAA said SpaceX has "met all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements for the suborbital test flight."

SpaceX is preparing to once again launch its 37-storey Starship as soon as Sunday, pending regulatory approval. 

This will be the fifth launch of Starship, and could be a particularly incredible show: SpaceX plans to catch the 21-storey booster at the launch pad shortly after liftoff.

The news comes as a bit of a surprise, as last month the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it did not expect to rule on the proposed launch before late November. However, on Monday, SpaceX posted on X that the flight test could launch as soon as Sunday.

In a statement to NASASpaceflight, a private aerospace news organization, the FAA said it was reviewing new information submitted by SpaceX about the proposed flight. It made no mention of the November timeframe.

On top of that, SpaceX was grounded following the launch of its Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station on Sept. 29, after the second stage missed its deorbit splashdown zone. It was given special approval to launch NASA's Hera mission last Monday. 

NASA is also awaiting the launch of its Europa Clipper mission to a moon of Jupiter's, which was scheduled to launch on Thursday atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. That launch was postponed due to Hurricane Milton, but could also take place as early as Sunday.

Improvements

This next integrated flight test (IFT5) of Starship has seen a number of changes following its last launch, IFT4, in June.

During IFT4, viewers were treated to an unprecedented view of Starship re-entering the atmosphere, with plasma surrounding the ship. The heat of re-entry was too much for one of the flaps, which are covered in tiles to absorb heat, and it suffered some damage. Despite that, the spacecraft managed to re-enter and successfully "land" in the Indian Ocean.

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SpaceX has since upgraded its heat shield to a newer generation, along with additional layers that they hope will add better protection. 

But the big show for IFT5 is what's new: After the Super Heavy booster separates from Starship, SpaceX intends to make an attempt to catch it back on the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, using what are referred to as "chopsticks," which can be seen holding Starship before the launch. 

The decision to catch it will be made six minutes and 50 seconds after launch, and a massive sonic boom is expected, upon the booster's re-entry, off the coast. It will be the first time any such attempt has been made using arms, and with such a large booster. 

WATCH | Starship re-enters the atmosphere:

See the moment SpaceX's Starship re-entered Earth's atmosphere

9 months ago

Duration 1:48

External cameras captured the plasma field generated as SpaceX's Starship re-entered Earth's atmosphere during the third test flight of the company's mega rocket on Thursday. The company later said the spacecraft was destroyed during re-entry.

"The infrastructure to catch the returning booster, rather than having it land like [SpaceX's] Falcon, is new and has never been tried before in aerospace history," said Jordan Bimm, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago and a space historian.

"This will be the moment to watch on this test and will determine whether IFT4 can count as a developmental success."

Bimm says, if this is a success, the next step is likely a Starship launch into a full orbit as, thus far, these its launches have been suborbital, meaning they haven't gone completely go around Earth.

SpaceX vs. the FAA

The dispute between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and the FAA has been going on for several weeks, with Musk heavily criticizing the regulator's proposed $633,000 fine over SpaceX launch issues, along with the delay of IFT5, which the company says has been ready to launch since August.

Musk has threatened to sue and has called for the resignation of FAA administrator Mike Whitaker. IFT5's expected sonic boom was one of the issues the FAA had cited for its prolonged approval, because of nearby wildlife and populated areas.

At a congressional hearing last month, Whitaker said the delay "had to do with SpaceX filing an application and not disclosing that they were in violation of Texas and federal law on some matters, and that's a requirement to get a permit." 

SpaceX disputed that claim.

Should the launch happen on Sunday, it is likely that another one could be coming soon after, as SpaceX has already tested the next booster and Starship.

Musk hopes that Starship will one day ferry people to Mars. But, in the short term, it will be used to take astronauts to the surface of the moon in NASA's Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2026.

Bimm will be keeping a close eye on this next launch.

"The relative success of IFT4 gave the Starship program momentum," he said.

"I will be looking to see if IFT5 is able to build on this momentum or if there is either any backsliding or failure to achieve this new set of goals."