Washington: SpaceX is preparing to send its flagship Starship vehicle into orbit for the first time next week, marking a major stage in the development of the rocket for future missions beyond Earth.
The company, co-founded by Elon Musk, said the launch is scheduled to take place from Texas at 7:15 am local time (1215 GMT) on Tuesday.
The mission will be the 14th flight test involving Starship. During the flight, SpaceX also plans to deploy 26 Starlink satellites, adding another objective to the test.
SpaceX said the move into orbital testing would open an “exciting new phase” for Starship, which is designed to become a fully and rapidly reusable launch system.
Previous tests were deliberately conducted along suborbital trajectories to maximise public safety, according to the company. The transition to orbital missions is intended to support further development of the vehicle’s reusability and operational capabilities.
The Starship programme has experienced several setbacks during earlier flight tests, with some vehicles breaking apart or exploding. Musk has referred to such incidents as “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”
The most recent test flight in July was largely successful, representing progress in the company’s development programme.
Despite that progress, Starship still has to demonstrate several important capabilities before it can be used for commercial operations or future missions involving the Moon and Mars. One of the key technologies yet to be successfully demonstrated is the transfer and refuelling of propellant in space.
SpaceX’s upcoming orbital attempt is therefore expected to provide important data on the vehicle’s performance as the company moves toward its longer-term plans for reusable space transportation.