SpaceX Starship launch delayed: What time is the new launch?
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is gearing up for the second ever launch of its massive Starship rocket on 18 November
By Alex Wilkins
16 November 2023 Last updated 17 November 2023
Starship is ready for launch near Boca Chica, Texas
UPI/Alamy Stock Photo
SpaceX will attempt to launch its Starship rocket, the most powerful to ever fly, for the second time tomorrow, after a test in April saw it fly for 5 minutes before exploding.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, will be keen to see the rocket succeed as it forms a central part of his plan to send astronauts to the moon and to colonise Mars, but local residents and environmental scientists will also be hoping the second test doesn’t again end in failure, after houses in a kilometres-wide radius were covered in dust and debris.
What time is Starship launching?
SpaceX is aiming for a 20-minute launch window starting at 8am EST (1pm GMT) on 18 November. A livestream of the launch will begin half an hour earlier, at 7.30am EST (12.30 GMT). The launch was originally planned for 17 November but has been delayed to replace a part, Musk said.
Advertisement
The rocket is launching from SpaceX’s Starbase spaceport near Boca Chica, Texas. Nearby residents have been warned to expect a loud thundering noise.
Where is Starship going?
The flight plan for Starship is similar to the first launch – assuming it passes its preflight checks, it will fly for 90 minutes after launch before making a controlled descent, splashing down somewhere off the coast of Hawaii.
If the tests prove successful, SpaceX says it will use Starship to carry astronauts to the moon and, eventually, Mars. The 120-metre-tall rocket will be fully reusable and will be able to transport up to 100 passengers.