SpaceX is launching its next Starship megarocket test flight early in the morning on Thursday, June 6, and if you’re hoping to see it live, you’ll need to know when and where to tune in. And for that, dear space fans, we have what you need.
SpaceX focuses on one 8am EDT (1200 GMT) launch for its Starship Flight 4 test flight of the Starship and Super Heavy megarocket from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas. While that time may change slightly before launch, it’s a good target for timing your viewing party.
SpaceX will offer a free live webcast of the Starship Flight 4 launch starting at approximately 7:30 AM EDT (1130 GMT). You can watch the livestream here on Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX. Here’s exactly when and how to watch Starship’s next launch.
What time does SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 launch?
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Currently, SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 is scheduled to launch on 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT), or 7 a.m. CDT from the company’s Starbase testing site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. However, SpaceX has a 120-minute window to launch the Flight 4 mission, so Starship can take off anytime between 8 a.m. and noon. 10am EDT (2pm GMT).
“As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so monitor our X account for updates,” SpaceX wrote in a mission description.
Starship and its Super Heavy booster are the world’s most powerful rocket. When stacked on top of each other, they stand nearly 400 feet (122 meters) tall, with the first stage powered by 33 Raptor engines and the Starship’s upper stage by six Raptors.
The Starship launch system is designed to be completely reusable and fly to distant destinations such as the moon, Mars or beyond, SpaceX said. NASA has chosen Starship to land its Artemis 3 astronauts on the moon in late 2026. But before Starship can land on the moon, it must reach space and prove it can reenter safely. That’s what Flight 4 is about.
“The fourth flight test shifts our focus from reaching orbit to demonstrating the ability to return and reuse Starship and Super Heavy,” SpaceX said in the mission description. SpaceX has launched three test flights so far, with the first two failing to reach space. Starship Flight 3 reached space, but both the Starship and Super Heavy stages disintegrated upon returning to Earth.
Related: See our SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy guide for a detailed overview
Can I watch the launch of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4?
Yes, you can watch the SpaceX Starship Flight 4 launch online, and you can choose where you want to watch.
The first and most obvious place to watch the launch is from SpaceX’s X account (formerly Twitter). 30 minutes before takeoff – so at approximately 7:30 AM EDT (1130 GMT).
Space.com will broadcast the SpaceX livestream live on our own VideoFromSpace YouTube channel, as well as on our homepage and at the top of this page.
If you want to check SpaceX’s Flight 4 status BEFORE SpaceX’s livestream, consider tuning into NASASpaceflight.com’s YouTube channel, which offers live views of SpaceX’s Starship, Starbase pads and other locations, and likely will provide live commentary while refueling. .
If you happen to be in or near Boca Chica, Texas and are hoping to see the Starship launch in person, you have several locations to choose from.
SpaceX doesn’t have an official viewing site, but you can visit several public beaches to watch the launch. Nearby South Padre Island offers an unobstructed view of the rocket from the shoreline near the Cameron County Amphitheater and Isla Blanca Park. You can also find similar beachside viewing spots along the nearby shore of Port Isabel.
I watched the launch of Starship Flight 1 in April 2023 from the Cameron County Amphitheater on South Padre Island, and I can assure you that it offers unobstructed views (aside from a few boats in the harbor) for spectators on the beach. (There’s also a public restroom, always a plus.) You’ll want to bring a folding chair, water, sunscreen, and other essentials. Traffic to and from the campsite can be heavy, so take that into account when planning your trip.
How long is SpaceX’s spaceship flight 4?
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 is expected to last just over an hour, if all goes according to plan.
Flight 4 will follow a similar trajectory to the March 14 launch of SpaceX Starship Flight 3, which aimed for a 65-minute mission from launch to the spacecraft’s landing in the Indian Ocean.
“This flight path does not require a deorbit burn for reentry, maximizing public safety while providing the ability to achieve our primary goal of a controlled spacecraft reentry,” SpaceX wrote in its mission description.
The Super Heavy booster is expected to fly for almost seven minutes, with a landing burn scheduled for 6 minutes, 43 seconds after takeoff. SpaceX hopes it will make a controlled “landing” and soft landing in the Gulf of Mexico, miles offshore from Boca Chica Beach.
What if Starship can’t launch on Thursday?
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If SpaceX can’t launch Starship Flight 4 on June 6, the company likely has at least one (if not more) backup days to fall back on.
Officials in Cameron County, the region of South Texas where SpaceX’s Starbase facility is located, have listed June 7 and 8 as backup days, according to a beach closure advisory to the public. These closures will run from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM local time on both days, or approximately 1:00 AM to 3:00 PM EDT.
Of course, any attempt at a backup launch would depend on how far SpaceX goes in the Starship and Super Heavy refueling process. In the past, SpaceX has said it will take several days to replenish the more than 10 million pounds of supercold liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellants needed for launch.
If a technical issue delays the launch of Starship Flight 4, SpaceX will likely have to wait until it’s resolved before trying again.