SpaceX will repeat its feat of capturing the first stage of the Starship with its Mechazilla launch tower. A perilous maneuver, but successful for the first time in October. The test, scheduled for January 15, can be followed live.
This is a moment eagerly awaited by SpaceX fans. During the day of January 15, the American company will carry out – barring any drama – the 7th flight test of its brand new rocket, the immense Starship. This will be the opportunity to retry a mid-flight capture of the first stage, the Super Heavy. During the 5th test, in October, the maneuver was successful.
The 7th flight of the Starship rocket in summary
- Quoi ? The first test flight of the year for the Starship
- When ? January 15, 2025, at 11 p.m. (Paris time);
- Or ? At Starbase, Texas, in space, then the Indian Ocean;
- What will we see? The takeoff of the Starship, the atmospheric reentry of the spacecraft and the attempt to recover the first stage with the launch tower.
Where to watch the Starship launch live?
SpaceX is providing a live video broadcast, so that everyone can watch the test remotely. Everything happens on X (formerly Twitter), via the American company’s account. Integration on YouTube is no longer offered directly. The broadcast will be launched a few minutes before Starship takes off.
What is SpaceX’s mission?
Essentially, it is a question of repeating the feat observed with the 5th flight, when the first stage of the rocket returned to Earth, finishing its course in the mechanical arms of the Mechazilla launch tower. This capture was made in the air, without the Super Heavy touching the ground, which avoids adding landing gear.
Concerning the upper stage, called Starship, like the launcher, it must finish its course in the Indian Ocean, showing a new controlled landing. It is only from the 7th flight, scheduled for the beginning of 2025, that the Starship should in turn try to land on the arms of Mechazilla. It is unknown at this stage when SpaceX will attempt this stunt.
This mission is an opportunity for the company to introduce a first hardware update of the Starship, with the block 2 version. Already mentioned in the past, it was described in more detail at the beginning of January. This is a new generation Starship, with multiple developments (design, aerodynamics, avionics, tanks, cabling, protection, etc.).
All these modifications will be closely scrutinized by SpaceX, particularly during the sensitive atmospheric re-entry phase, during which very high temperatures are exerted on the structures of the space vehicle. Since flight 4, the Starship has survived this delicate passage, including in relatively degraded conditions.
If the conditions are not met to catch up with the Super Heavy, it must end its course in the Gulf of Mexico. It was this scenario that took place with the 6th vol. The decision is made by the control center, located in Texas, which takes into account weather conditions, the good health of the launcher and its trajectory.
When does the Starship rocket take off?
Takeoff is scheduled for January 15, at 11 p.m. metropolitan time, if weather conditions are favorable.
