SpaceX is set to conduct its next Starship flight test, marking a significant step towards achieving full reusability of its launch system. The launch is scheduled for January 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern (2200 GMT) from the Starbase Orbital Launch Pad A in South Texas, with a 97-minute launch window and backup days extending to January 16.
The Starship system comprises a massive first stage, known as Super Heavy, and the upper-stage spacecraft, referred to as Starship or 'Ship.' This upcoming launch will incorporate several upgrades and objectives, building on the previous Flight Test 6 conducted in November 2024.
A key highlight of this test is the deployment of payloads, specifically 10 Starlink simulators, to evaluate the system's capability to deploy advanced next-generation Starlink satellites in the future. The simulators will follow a suborbital trajectory, with the Ship targeting a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
Significant upgrades include reduced-size flaps on the upper stage to minimize heat exposure, alongside a redesigned propulsion system that increases propellant volume by 25%. The heat shield will utilize the latest generation tiles and feature a backup layer for added protection.
Super Heavy will reuse Raptor engine number 314, previously flown on Booster 12, as part of its reusability strategy. The booster aims to return to the pad for a catch attempt, although it may opt for a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico if conditions are not favorable.
Improvements to the launch tower include enhanced radar sensors for better distance measurement between the chopsticks and the returning vehicle, along with upgraded sensor protections to mitigate damage from earlier launches.
SpaceX anticipates that this year will be transformational for Starship, focusing on reusability and preparing for increasingly ambitious missions, including human and cargo flights into Earth orbit and beyond, towards the Moon and Mars.