SpaceX is gearing up for its seventh flight test of the Starship spacecraft, which will launch from Starbase in South Texas on Monday, January 13. The mission aims to deploy payloads in space and conduct several experiments focused on ship return to launch site and catch.
The flight test will be the first time SpaceX attempts to deploy payloads in space, with 10 mock satellites weighing similar to next-generation Starlink satellites. A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 35 minutes before liftoff on X @SpaceX and can also be watched on the new X TV app.
The mission is significant as it marks a major milestone for SpaceX’s reusable Starship program, which aims to bring humanity to Mars in the coming years. The flight test will include several upgrades to the Starship upper stage, including a block of planned improvements to reliability and performance.
During the flight, Starship will deploy 10 Starlink simulators on the same suborbital trajectory as the spacecraft, with splashdown targeted in the Indian Ocean. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned.
The mission will test various components of the Starship system, including its heat shield, flaps, and avionics. The vehicle’s heat shield will use the latest generation tiles and includes a backup layer to protect from missing or damaged tiles.
SpaceX has emphasized the importance of safety during this mission, with distinct vehicle and pad criteria that must be met prior to a return and catch of the Super Heavy booster. If conditions are not right, the booster will default to a trajectory that takes it to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
The new year is expected to be transformational for Starship, with the goal of bringing reuse of the entire system online and flying increasingly ambitious missions as SpaceX iterates towards being able to send humans and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars.
Source: https://news.satnews.com/2025/01/11/spacex-now-plans-launch-of-starships-seventh-test-flight-on-wednesday