Third Starship flight to launch on March 14

SpaceX has published a livestream link on social media site X to broadcast the third Starship flight launch on March 14, 2024.

The link published on X shows that the live stream will start on March 14th at 6:30 AM ET. The broadcast link appeared a few days after the company conducted a wet dress rehearsal on the Starship and Super Heavy rocket booster.

A WDR is a pre-launch test that rehearses the entire launch sequence without firing the rocket engines and leaving the launch pad. During this time, both Starship and its first stages are filled with cryogenic propellants.

SpaceX team then conducts a countdown simulation to check sequence, practice procedures, and test communication protocols for a real launch.

Other than these, the company also practices hold and scrub procedures in case the real launch occurs pre-flight issues in any part of the vehicle or launch system.

During this WDR, SpaceX loaded 10 million pounds of propellant on both Starship and Super Heavy boosters.

FAA License:

The license status of the third Starship flight is unknown. Last month, the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) concluded overseeing of the mishap investigation led by SpaceX on the second flight test.

SpaceX has identified 17 new changes and corrections in the flight design, systems, and launch procedures for the third flight.

Image Credit: SpaceX

1st and 2nd Flight:

Back in April 2023, SpaceX launched its first integrated Starship test flight and cleared the launch pad but the rocket failed at the hot staging. The second flight in November added new milestones including a successful liftoff, first-stage separation, and second-stage engine ignition.

Still, the second stage lost connection to the mission control before it blasted into the upper atmosphere.

The third Starship test aims to reach Earth’s orbit and if possible, the company would further conduct its technology demonstration in the orbit.