SpaceX Starship Orbital Test Launch

SpaceX Targets July for Starship's Inaugural Orbital Flight

According to Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, the company is aiming to initiate the first orbital flight test of its Starship spacecraft in July. This prospective timeline was revealed during a virtual address at the International Space Development conference.

Starship's Development and Testing

For several years, Starship has been undergoing rigorous development. Shorter test flights, confined to Earth's atmosphere, have been conducted since the previous year.

A recent flight notably achieved a completely successful landing, a crucial milestone in the Starship launch system’s evolution. The system is being engineered as SpaceX’s first fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle.

Flight Profile and Objectives

The July timeframe represents an ambitious goal for the initial orbital flight attempt. In May, SpaceX submitted its proposed flight path to regulatory bodies.

The planned trajectory involves liftoff from the Starbase development facility in South Texas, near Brownsville. Following ascent, the spacecraft is projected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean, near Hawaii.

The primary objective of this first flight is to achieve orbit and thoroughly evaluate the spacecraft’s performance during that phase. A controlled landing is not anticipated at this stage.

Future Development and FAA Licensing

Subsequent tests will prioritize a controlled landing of the Starship spacecraft. Ultimately, the goal is complete reusability of the entire system, encompassing the Super Heavy booster responsible for initial orbital insertion.

While Ms. Shotwell expressed strong confidence in SpaceX’s technical readiness, securing a license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remains a prerequisite for orbital launches.

Currently, the FAA is reviewing the necessary requirements, including a comprehensive environmental impact assessment of the launch operations and their potential effects on the surrounding environment.

The existing license only permits suborbital flight operations.