SpaceX has postponed the Starship’s seventh test flight to Wednesday due to weather and potential issues from a recent rehearsal
The year ahead is looking pretty crucial for Starship, which is this massive spacecraft from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. They had a rehearsal test recently, but it seems like weather and some issues during that test might have caused the delay.
SpaceX shared the new launch date on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, right after the rehearsal. They call it a “wet dress rehearsal,” which is basically a practice run without actually lighting the engines.
Now, they haven’t confirmed all the reasons for the delay, but it sounds like the rainy and windy weather at their Boca Chica site near Brownsville could be a factor. Plus, they might have found something during the rehearsal that needed fixing.
For this upcoming flight, SpaceX is planning to try something new. They want to deploy 10 Starlink simulators, which are like practice versions of their next-gen satellites. The goal is to splash down in the Indian Ocean.
They’re also going to attempt to catch the rocket booster again, which would create some sonic booms in the area. They’ve upgraded the catch tower with new gear to make this catch more likely to succeed.
This time, they’re using a Raptor engine from a previous flight, which is a first for them. They’re also planning to reignite the Raptor engines in space, which is a big deal for future missions.
If you want to catch the action, SpaceX will livestream the test about 35 minutes before liftoff. You can watch it on their website or on X. Just keep in mind that the schedule can change, so stay tuned for updates.
The countdown and flight test timelines are still on track for Wednesday, so it should be an exciting day for SpaceX fans!
