SpaceX Starship Flight 5 launch targeting next week, FAA approval pending

SpaceX is targeting Starship Flight 5 launch as soon as October 13 while waiting for regulatory approval to test the new mission objectives.

The ship has been flight-ready since August and was initially speculated to fly in early September. However, the FAA delayed the launch by two months to November, which caused a rift between the two sides.

The launch window for flight 5 will open at 7:00 a.m. CT and any changes based on flight preparations and weather could push it to the next available launch window.

A live broadcast of the event will start 30 minutes before the flight goes into the air on X (formerly Twitter) and X TV apps. New announcements regarding the mission will be available through X social media.

SpaceX Starship 5 Stacked (Source – SpaceX)

Objectives

Starship 4 has been the most successful flight in the past four tests. The booster stage has achieved a soft landing in the Gulf of Mexico and Starship has completed its reentry phase after enduring the high heat region.

Flight 5 wants to add another massive milestone to this test journey by catching the booster on the launch tower. This will be the first time the booster will return to the launch site and land directly into Mechazilla’s arms.

SpaceX has made many new upgrades to the launch tower and the booster designed based on previous flight data. Since August, the company has tested and optimized the launch tower’s arms movement and closing and opening sequences.

On the other hand, the Starship will pursue its goals with reentry and perfect the burn while reducing damage to the vehicle and reaching the landing zone in the Indian Ocean.

Although it splashed right in the Indian Ocean but missed the targeted landing area. To improve heat management and deflect it during reentry, Starship 5 will equip upgraded tiles. These are improved based on the feedback and data collected from Flight 4.

There’s much to see during flight 5 and we’ll have to wait to see if the FAA agrees to let the new Starship fly next week.

(Source)