SpaceX Starship Flight 4 to launch in May: NASA Deputy Admin

SpaceX could attempt a large Starship integrated flight test 4 by the end of May while preparing the booster and the spacecraft in the assembly line. A few days ago, SpaceX completed one year of launching the first Starship flight test.

The initial flight completed the first-ever ground clearance of this massive lunch vehicle. The second flight achieved full-duration engine burn and state separation. The third flight went two steps ahead and completed more milestones than the past two flights.

These tests are crucial for a company to send larger payloads into orbit. Starship is also a part of large space exploration programs such as NASA’s Artemis mission to send humans back to the Moon.

However, this integrated flight needs to achieve stability before it can participate in a commercial space flight. The third test proved that the company is making progress in this direction.

During the test flight, the first and second stages separated successfully and followed their next miles. These were boost-back maneuvers and leading payload to orbit with the second stage. Despite completing all of the milestones but failed to achieve the planned landing.

SpaceX Starship Flight 3 Liftoff from Starbase Texas (Source – SpaceX)

The company has gathered crucial data from flight 3 and will use it for flight 4. This time, It wants to achieve landing on the virtual tower for both stages. SpaceX has completed wet-dress rehearsal on Starship and Booster to launch test the fourth vehicle.

This flight test will require FAA launch approval and license modification. The last test has received a pretty positive reaction from FAA executives suggesting that the launch permit may come very soon.

Today, Eric Berger from X social media, shared some information that SpaceX is working on its way toward the fourth flight test before the end of May. This information was shared by NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator, Amit Kshatriya.

Elon Musk, Founder and CEO of SpaceX also said earlier this month that Test Flight 4 launch is aimed for next month. Still, we have to wait for the FAA’s approval.