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The upper stage of SpaceX’s sixth Starship rolls to the launch pad ahead of a planned test flight on November 19, 2024. SpaceX published this photo via X on November 12, 2024. | Image credit: SpaceX via X
SpaceX is preparing to launch its next Starship test flight, a mission that will attempt a second capture of the world’s largest rocket on Tuesday (November 19). However, if you want to watch the launch live online, you’ll need to know when to tune in.
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 6 test flight is currently scheduled to launch at the earliest Tuesday, November 19, 5:00 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) from the company’s Starbase location in South Texas, near Boca Chica Beach. This will be SpaceX’s sixth test flight of a Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster, as well as its second attempt to capture the giant Super Heavy after one breathtaking launch and rocket catch last month.
You can watch the launch live on Space.com in a livestream courtesy of SpaceX, expected to begin about 30 minutes before launch. Follow our Starship live updates for more mission milestones.
When will SpaceX’s Starship Flight 6 test launch take place?
At press time, the Starship Flight 6 test is scheduled to begin 5:00 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) or 4:00 p.m. CST from SpaceX’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. SpaceX has a 30-minute window for launching the Flight 5 mission. That means Starship Flight 6 could take off at some point in between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT).
“The next Starship flight test aims to expand the scope of the ship and booster capabilities and move closer to online reuse of the entire system,” SpaceX wrote in a mission overview.
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SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy launch vehicle stand nearly 400 feet (122 meters) tall when fully assembled, making them the tallest rocket in the world. The 33 Raptor engines on the first stage and six more on the Starship upper stage also make it the most powerful launch vehicle in the world.
The first spacecraft to reach space was the Flight 3 test vehicle, which launched on March 14. Flight 4 on June 6 was a complete success, with both Super Heavy and Starship landing in their respective water zones.
SpaceX demonstrated a larger demonstration with Flight 5 on October 13th. This mission not only sent their spacecraft into space and landed in the Indian Ocean, but also returned their Super Heavy carrier to Earth through a successful capture by the “Mechazilla” gantry arms of the Starbase’s launch tower.
The sixth Starship test flight aims to repeat the success of SpaceX’s Flight 5 and test new systems, the company said in a mission overview.
“Objectives include returning the booster to the launch site for capture, re-igniting a Raptor ship engine in space, and testing a series of heat shield experiments and maneuvering changes for the ship’s re-entry and descent over the Indian Ocean,” SpaceX wrote. “Hardware upgrades for this flight provide additional redundancy to the booster propulsion systems, increase structural strength in key areas and reduce the time to unload fuel from the booster after a successful catch. Mission designers also updated the software controls and commit criteria for booster launch and return.”
SpaceX is designing its Starship and Super Heavy rockets as a fully reusable launch system. NASA selected Starship for landing Artemis 3 Astronauts are expected to be on the moon by 2026, with SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk saying the company will attempt to launch a spacecraft to Mars as early as this year.
Related: Read our SpaceX Spaceship and Super Heavy Guide for a detailed look
Can I watch the launch of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 6?
Yes, you can watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight 6 test launch online. As with previous Starship launches, there are several live streams you can watch to follow the launch, including on Space.com.
SpaceX’s official launch livestream can be found on the company’s X account (formerly Twitter) and now on the Flight 6 mission page 30 minutes before the start at around 4:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT). Space.com’s VideoFromSpace YouTube channel will simultaneously broadcast SpaceX’s official webcast and will appear on this page and at the top of our homepage. This timing could change if SpaceX changes the launch time.
NASASpaceflight.com’s YouTube channel and Everyday Astronaut are some examples of other websites that provide live views of SpaceX’s spacecraft activity at Starbase and other locations before launch. In particular, NASASpaceflight.com will likely provide live views during the refueling process and early pre-launch checks before SpaceX’s webcast begins.
If you have the opportunity to go to the Starbase, you can try to watch the launch live in person. However, note that SpaceX does not have an official website for observation. However, the Starship pad is visible from several public beaches in the area.
On South Padre Island, for example, you have good views and a clear line of sight to SpaceX’s spacecraft pad from Isla Blanca Park and the Cameron County Amphitheater. From this location I observed SpaceX’s Starship Flight 1 in April 2023. The coast of nearby Port Isabel can also be a good observation area for launches. There can be heavy traffic at both locations, so it’s best to arrive early. Don’t forget to pack a folding chair, snacks, water, bug spray and other essentials.
How long is SpaceX’s Starship Flight 6?
Flight profile of a SpaceX Starship Flight 6 rocket test with boosters and spacecraft falling into the sea
Based on the current 65-minute flight schedule, SpaceX’s test flight with Flight 6 Starship is expected to last just over an hour. The flight path is expected to follow a similar trajectory to Flight 5, which sent a spacecraft on a trajectory that entered space, coasted for a time and then re-entered over the Indian Ocean west of Australia .
“The returning booster will slow due to supersonic speed, resulting in audible sonic booms in the area around the landing zone,” SpaceX wrote in its mission overview. “The spacecraft’s upper stage will fly the same suborbital trajectory as the previous flight test, with targeted water drop in the Indian Ocean. An additional objective for this flight will be to attempt an in-space burn using a single Raptor engine to further demonstrate the capabilities required to perform a ship-based deorbit burn prior to orbital missions.
While SpaceX hopes to recover the super-heavy booster by trapping it in giant metal “sticks” on the launch tower, the company could reject the attempt if any factor isn’t perfect. If any criteria are not met, SpaceX could instead opt for a soft landing of the rocket in the Gulf of Mexico, as was the case with Flight 4.
“We will not accept compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public and our team, and the return will only occur if the conditions are right,” SpaceX wrote.
What if Starship cannot launch on Tuesday?
The two stages of SpaceX’s sixth Starship are seen on the launch pad ahead of its scheduled launch on November 18, 2024.
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If SpaceX fails to launch Starship Flight 6 on November 19th, the company may try again 24 hours later on November 20th.
Officials in Cameron County, the region of South Texas that includes SpaceX’s Starbase facility, have issued a road and beach closure warning for Boca Chica Beach for launch day “Alternative Day” on November 20th. These closures last from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time on both days, suggesting SpaceX could have at least two opportunities to launch Flight 6 next week.
However, any backup launch attempt will depend on how far SpaceX gets with its Starship and Super Heavy refueling process during the launch countdown. The company has said in the past that it takes several days to replenish the more than 10 million pounds of supercold liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellants needed for launch.
“As with all development testing, the schedule is dynamic and is likely to change. So be sure to check back here and stay tuned to our X account for updates,” SpaceX wrote in a Flight 6 mission overview.
Visit Space.com November 19 for complete coverage of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 5 launch test.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on November 15th at 1:15 a.m. ET with the new scheduled launch date of November 19th. The previous date was November 18th.
