SpaceX is also flying rudimentary catch fittings on Starship to test their thermal performance on reentry. The ship will fly a more demanding trajectory during descent to probe the structural limits of the redesigned flaps at the point of maximum entry dynamic pressure, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX’s most ambitious Starship flight yet will see reused hardware, the deployment of 10 fake satellites and another attempt to catch the booster with “chopsticks”

SpaceX rolled the upper stage of its Starship megarocket out to the pad this morning (Jan. 9) ahead of its planned Jan. 13 test flight.

Starship is set for liftoff as early as Friday, January 10, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on X in late December. The past few launches have been a treat, and SpaceX is ready to take it up a notch for lucky number seven.

SpaceX crews are preparing for the 7th test launch of its Starship mega rocket. The world’s biggest rocket could launch again from SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas at 5 p.m. on Monday. SpaceX said Starship 7 is a “new generation” of its spacecraft that will test significant upgrades.

The South Texas commercial space company has two objectives with this flight: landing its booster and demonstrating its ability to carry payloads.

CEO Elon Musk says the next Starship flight test will take place Jan. 10 and will involve a new generation ship with major upgrades.

SpaceX could make serious strides with its Starship vehicle in 2025, perhaps launching 25 test flights of the fully reusable megarocket.