SpaceX will launch its next Starship megarocket test flight early in the morning of Thursday, June 6, and if you’re hoping to watch it live, you’ll need to know when and where to tune in. And for that, dear space fans. , we have what you need.
SpaceX aims for a 8:00 a.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. GMT) launching its Starship Flight 4 test flight of the Starship and Super Heavy megarocket from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas. While this time may change a bit before launch, it’s a great goal to time your watch party.
SpaceX will offer a free live webcast of the Starship Flight 4 launch starting around 7:30 a.m. EDT (11:30 a.m. GMT). You can watch the live stream here on Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX. Here’s a look at exactly when and how to watch the next Starship launch.
What time is SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 launching?
Currently, SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 is scheduled to launch at 8:00 a.m. EDT (12:00 p.m. GMT) or 7:00 a.m. CDT from the company’s Starbase test site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. However, SpaceX has a 120-minute window to launch the Flight 4 mission, so Starship could take off anytime between 8 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. EDT (2:00 p.m. GMT).
“As is the case with all development testing, the schedule is dynamic and subject to change, so be sure to stay tuned to our X account for updates,” SpaceX wrote in a description of mission.
Starship and its Super Heavy booster are the most powerful rocket in the world. When stacked together, they stand nearly 400 feet tall (122 meters), with the first stage powered by 33 Raptor engines and the Starship’s upper stage by six Raptors.
The Starship Launch System is designed to be fully reusable and fly to deep space destinations like the Moon, Mars or beyond, SpaceX said. NASA has chosen Starship to land its Artemis 3 astronauts on the moon in late 2026. But before Starship can land on the moon, it must reach space and prove it can return safely. This is the goal of flight 4.
“The fourth flight test shifts our focus from achieving orbit to demonstrating the ability to return and reuse Starships and Super Heavys,” SpaceX said in the mission description. SpaceX has launched three test flights so far, with the first two failing to reach space. Starship Flight 3 reached space, but the Starship and Super Heavy stages broke apart on their way back to Earth.
Related: Check out our SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy guide for a detailed overview
Can I watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 launch?
Yes, you will be able to watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 launch online and you will have a choice of where to watch it.
The first and most obvious place to watch the launch will be on SpaceX’s X account (formerly Twitter), starting at 30 minutes before takeoff – so around 7:30 a.m. EDT (11:30 a.m. GMT).
Space.com will broadcast the SpaceX live stream on our own VideoFromSpace YouTube channel, as well as on our homepage and at the top of this page.
If you want to check the status of SpaceX Flight 4 BEFORE the SpaceX live stream, consider tuning into the NASASpaceflight.com YouTube channel, which offers live views of SpaceX’s spacecraft, starbases, and more. other locations, and will likely offer live commentary during the fueling process. .
If you’re in or near the Boca Chica, Texas area and hoping to see the Starship launch in person, you have several locations to choose from.
SpaceX doesn’t have an official viewing site, but you can visit several public beaches to watch the launch. Neighboring South Padre Island offers clear views of the rocket from the shore near the Cameron County Amphitheater and Isla Blanca Park. You can also find similar seaside vantage points along the nearby shore of Port Isabel.
I actually watched the Starship Flight 1 launch in April 2023 from the Cameron County Amphitheater on South Padre Island, and I can assure you it provides an amazing view (aside from some boats in the harbor) to the spectators on the beach. (There are also public restrooms, always a plus.) You’ll need to bring a folding chair, water, sunscreen, and other supplies. Traffic can be heavy to and from the site, so take this into account when planning your trip.
How long is SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4?
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 is expected to last just over an hour, if all goes according to plan.
Flight 4 will follow a similar trajectory to SpaceX’s Starship Flight 3 launch on March 14, which aimed for a 65-minute mission from launch to Starship’s landing in the Indian Ocean.
“This flight path does not require deorbiting for reentry, maximizing public safety while providing the opportunity to achieve our primary objective of a controlled spacecraft reentry,” SpaceX wrote in its mission description.
The Super Heavy booster, meanwhile, is expected to fly for nearly 7 minutes, with a planned landing 6 minutes and 43 seconds after liftoff. SpaceX hopes to perform a controlled “landing” and soft water landing in the Gulf of Mexico, miles off Boca Chica Beach.
| TIME (Hr:Min:Sec) | EVENT | Header cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| T-1:15:00 | Flight Director Poll for Fuel Loading | Line 0 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:49:00 | Liquid methane loading of spacecraft begins | Line 1 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:47:00 | Liquid oxygen loading of spacecraft begins | Line 2 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:40:00 | Super heavy liquid methane loading begins | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:37:00 | Super heavy liquid oxygen loading begins | Line 4 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:19:40 | Super Heavy Raptor Engine Cooling | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:3:20 | Ship refueling completed | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:2:50 | Super Heavy refueling completed | Line 7 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:0:30 | Flight Director GO for launch | Row 8 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:00:10 | Flame deflector activation | Line 9 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:00:03 | Starting the Raptor Ignition Sequence | Row 10 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:00:00 | Liftoff (“Excitement guaranteed,” as SpaceX puts it.) | Row 11 – Cell 2 |
| TIME (Hr:Min:Sec) | FLIGHT EVENT | Header cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| T+00:02 | Lift-off | Line 0 – Cell 2 |
| T+01:02 | Spaceship/Super Heavy, Max Q Range | Line 1 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:41 | Super Heavy Main Engine Shutdown | Line 2 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:45 | Starship Raptor Engine Hot Separation/Ignition | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:49 | Starting super heavy boostback burning | Line 4 – Cell 2 |
| T+3:52 | Super Intense Combustion Engine Shutdown | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| T+3:54 | Hot stage drop | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
| T+6:39 | Super Heavy is transonic | Line 7 – Cell 2 |
| T+6:43 | Start burn on super heavy landing | Row 8 – Cell 2 |
What if Starship can’t launch on Thursday?
If SpaceX isn’t able to launch Starship Flight 4 on June 6, it’s likely the company has at least one (if not more) days of backup to fall back on.
Officials in Cameron County, the South Texas region that includes SpaceX’s Starbase facility, have listed June 7 and 8 as backup days, according to a beach closure notice to the public. These closures extend from midnight to 2 p.m. local time, or approximately 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT, both days.
Of course, any attempt at a backup launch will depend on how far SpaceX goes in the process of refueling the Starship and Super Heavy. In the past, SpaceX has said it takes several days to resupply the more than 10 million pounds of very cold liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellant needed for launch.
If a technical issue delays the launch of Starship Flight 4, SpaceX will likely have to wait until it is resolved to try again.