SpaceX Targets Thursday for Starship Test Flight
SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) said on Sunday that it could launch the 13th test flight of its Starship rocket as early as Thursday.
The company canceled its previous launch attempt only minutes before liftoff after several spacecraft engines failed to start.
Starship Flight Will Test Key Mission Stages
The upcoming Starship test flight will focus on completing several important stages of the mission.
SpaceX plans to test the rocket’s launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn and landing burn. The company intends to complete the landing burn above a designated offshore location.
Starship is SpaceX’s largest and most powerful rocket system.
Starlink V3 Satellites Included in the Mission
The spacecraft will also carry Starlink V3 satellites during the test flight.
The payload will allow SpaceX to gather additional data while evaluating Starship’s ability to support future satellite deployment missions.
Engine Problems Delayed the Previous Launch
SpaceX aborted last week’s launch attempt shortly before liftoff because some of the spacecraft’s engines did not ignite.
The company also experienced engine-related problems during Starship’s 12th test flight. Those issues led the Federal Aviation Administration to open an investigation.
SpaceX said it has introduced several hardware and software changes to address problems identified during the previous mission.
First Starship Flight Since SpaceX IPO
The 13th Starship test flight will be SpaceX’s first since the company completed its major initial public offering in June.
The canceled launch attempt last week placed additional pressure on SpaceX shares. The stock moved further below its IPO price following the delay.
SpaceX has reportedly lost around $1 trillion in market value since reaching a peak valuation of $2.64 trillion shortly after its public listing.
