SpaceX Ships Booster and Ship for Third Starship Integrated Flight Test, Elon Musk Predicts Moon Landing in Less Than 5 Years
SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, is making significant progress in its mission to develop the world’s first pure play interplanetary transport system. After a brief lull, SpaceX has shipped its booster and ship for the third Starship integrated flight test (IFT-3). This comes as exciting news for space enthusiasts and those following the company’s ambitious plans.
The delay between the second and third Starship test flights had initially been expected to be shorter than the previous one. However, as mid-February approaches, there is still no concrete information about a timeline. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently shared that SpaceX has yet to meet the documentary requirements for third license approval. Despite this setback, SpaceX remains committed to pushing forward with its rocket development.
The latest images of the new rockets from SpaceX showcase the company’s dedication to advancing space exploration. The Starship rocket system is currently the most consequential in the aerospace industry. It has the capability to haul significantly more payload to low Earth orbit (LEO) compared to other launch vehicles like NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) or vehicles from Blue Origin and ULA. This is crucial for SpaceX’s Mars missions, as the rocket’s ability to carry tonnage drops significantly for journeys to farther destinations.
While there have been few updates on the licensing front, SpaceX has resumed its Starship rocket development in Texas. The rockets have been shipped to the launch pad, and footage from local media shows that the massive second stage Starship has been stacked on top of the even larger Starship Super Heavy booster. This progress demonstrates SpaceX’s commitment to achieving its test milestones for NASA’s Artemis program.
The Starship rocket faced a setback in 2023 when the first test flight resulted in significant damage to the launch pad. However, the reconstruction and approval process that followed has not deterred SpaceX from its goals. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, recently expressed confidence in the company’s ability to meet NASA’s timelines. Since Starship has been chosen as the lander for lunar missions, it must first demonstrate uncrewed landing capabilities on the lunar surface before astronauts can use it for their missions. The crewed Starship landing is scheduled to take place under the NASA Artemis 3 mission in 2026.
Musk’s latest comments have sparked excitement among space enthusiasts. When asked about breaking the current record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth, Musk stated that Starship could make it to the Moon in less than five years. The current record, set by the Apollo 13 crew, stands at a little over 400,000 kilometers. Musk’s comments may also hint at the timeline for the dearMoon Project, one of SpaceX’s earliest contracts for Starship.
Although a test attempt cannot take place without FAA approval, the stacking of the second stage Starship on the first stage indicates progress toward a third flight. SpaceX has been diligently test firing its rockets since the second Starship test flight in November. This dedication to continuous improvement and innovation is what sets SpaceX apart in the aerospace industry.
As SpaceX ships its booster and ship for the third Starship integrated flight test, the company is making significant strides towards its goal of interplanetary travel. With Elon Musk’s ambitious prediction of reaching the Moon in less than five years, it is clear that SpaceX is at the forefront of space exploration. The world eagerly awaits the next chapter in SpaceX’s journey as it continues to push boundaries and redefine what is possible in space travel.