• SpaceX's upcoming test on November 18 will attempt to relight one of Starship’s six Raptor engines on orbit.
  • The mission includes booster recovery and testing of new thermal protection materials.

SpaceX has announced it will conduct the sixth test flight of its Starship rocket, the largest rocket ever built, on November 18. This follows a successful flight last month that marked the first return of the Super Heavy booster to the launch site, where it was caught mid-air by the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms.

This mission also demonstrated a controlled splashdown of the Starship upper stage in the Indian Ocean. Notably, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already approved flights five and six, enabling SpaceX to maintain an accelerated launch cadence.

The upcoming test aims to replicate the previous mission's successes, including booster recovery at the launch site and Starship’s splashdown. SpaceX intends to further examine the upper-stage reentry with its heat shield and landing maneuvers, aiming to bring the entire reusable system closer to operational status.

The company has made several upgrades to the Starship system for this mission, enhancing booster propulsion redundancy, software controls, and other critical elements.

A key objective in this test is to relight one of Starship’s six Raptor engines on orbit, which is essential for reusability of the upper stage. The Starship upper stage will also be put through rigorous testing, as new secondary thermal protection materials will be evaluated.

Additionally, the company states:

“The ship also will intentionally fly at a higher angle of attack in the final phase of descent, purposefully stressing the limits of flap control to gain data on future landing profiles.”

Looking ahead, SpaceX has hinted at “significant upgrades” starting with the seventh flight, which will include redesigned flaps, larger propellant tanks, and enhanced thermal protection systems.

A live webcast of the November 18 test will begin about 30 minutes before the 2 p.m. PT launch window, viewable on X and the SpaceX website.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah