SpaceX Starship Flight 6: Launch Date and Objectives

SpaceX is gearing up for the Starship Flight 6 and use the success of Flight 5 to improve the software and hardware to the launch date. Starship Flight 6 will be an important test flight for this mega-rocket and advance this vehicle.

However, the path to this new test goes through flight 5 and we’ve to know something to speculate new objectives.

Flight 6 Objectives

During Flight 5, SpaceX marked successful liftoff with 33 first-stage Raptor engines. After achieving Max Q, the company performed hot-staging and maneuvered the booster back to the launch site. At the same time, the second stage fired its six Raptor engines and started the coasting phase.

The primary object of the mission was to land the first stage between the tower’s chopsticks. Eventually, the booster maintained its trajectory and landed according to the plan.

On the other hand, the Starship survived the high-heat region with upgraded heat shield tiles. It also landed on the targeted splash zone in the Indian Ocean.

After the recent flight, SpaceX Flight 6 will broadly focus on the second stage. However, it will continue to polish the booster catch with the next flight.

The spacecraft is now using upgraded tiles and these performed quite well after Flight 5’s atmospheric reentry. The next flight further strengthens its ability to endure heat and remain functional during descent.

Flight 6 will be a crucial test to provide data and understanding to land the spacecraft with Flight 7 or Flight 8 in 2025.

Starship Flight 6 Launch Date

Each of the past four missions has some anomaly whether it’s the booster, spacecraft, engines, tiles, or even new changes in the license applications. These elements have caused months of delay in new flight tests.

However, the tests provided much-needed data and insights to improve the rocket design. With Flight 5, SpaceX completed all milestones and the mission was conducted within the scope of the launch license filed with the FAA.

Therefore, the FAA will not conduct a new investigation for this flight test, which means Starship 6 is pre-licensed if it keeps the launch objectives identical to Starship 5.

However, its license could take time, if SpaceX amends any changes in the license application. If all goes well, the Starship Flight 6 launch date could fall in December after all pre-launch tests.