Space X Starship test flight details: launch date and time, trajectory, liftoff and drop spots...
Excitement is brewing as SpaceX prepares for the launch of Starship Test Flight 3 this morning. These are the details of the upcoming launch.
SpaceX is on the verge of another historic moment with the upcoming test flight of its Starship launch vehicle. This highly anticipated mission, known as Starship Test Flight (SFT) 3, marks a crucial step towards the company’s ambitious goal of interplanetary travel.
Launch date and time
The target launch window for SFT-3 opens at 7 a.m. CT / 8 a.m. ET / 5 a.m PT on 14 March, 2024.
Starship will take off from Starbase Launch Site in Boca Chica, Texas. Following liftoff, the Super Heavy booster stage will separate approximately 170 seconds into the flight and return for a controlled landing in the Gulf of Mexico, about 20 miles offshore.
The Starship upper stage will continue its ascent to an apogee (highest point) of approximately 235 kilometers (146 miles) before initiating a re-entry burn to slow down for its descent.
The mission culminates with a planned hard landing of the Starship in the Indian Ocean, roughly 1 hour and 4 minutes after liftoff.
What to watch for
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SpaceX has provided a live stream of the launch on its X account.
This test flight serves several key purposes. It allows SpaceX to gather crucial data on the performance of the Starship in flight, including its propulsion systems, thermal protection, and overall stability. The second launch resulted in the rocket’s complete destruction; the team will be hoping that there is not a repeat.