Starship launch tonight: What to expect from SpaceX’s mega-rocket
How to watch the launch of SpaceX's sixth Starship flight (photo: Getty Images)
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to launch its mega-rocket Starship overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, November 20, marking its sixth test since April 2023, according to Space.com, a news site focused on space exploration, innovation, and astronomy.
The two-stage reusable rocket Starship is the largest and most powerful ever built. It consists of the upper stage Starship and the Super Heavy booster. The launch, named Integrated Flight Test-6 (IFT-6), is scheduled within a 30-minute window opening at 5:00 PM EST (12:00 AM Kyiv time).
This will be Starship’s second launch in the past two months. The previous flight, IFT-5, successfully took place on October 13. Today’s launch will follow a similar pattern: the Super Heavy booster will attempt a catch using the launch tower’s “chopsticks,” and the upper stage Starship will complete a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean.
However, this launch includes new objectives, such as reigniting the Raptor engine in space, testing thermal protection systems, and performing reentry and descent maneuvers into the Indian Ocean. The rocket, approximately 122 meters tall and 9 meters in diameter, was assembled at the Starbase launch site last week.
Starship is considered a key component of NASA’s Artemis program. Under a 2021 contract, SpaceX selected Starship as the lunar lander for the Artemis 3 mission, set to deliver astronauts to the Moon in 2025 for the first time since the Apollo program ended in 1972.
When and where to watch the launch
Live coverage will begin 30 minutes before the launch window opens, at approximately 4:30 PM EST (11:30 PM Kyiv time).
The official SpaceX stream will be available via the company’s account on X (formerly Twitter), the YouTube channel VideoFromSpace, and Space.com’s homepage.
