SpaceX's Starship Prepares for Sixth Test Flight on Launchpad

As SpaceX prepares for the sixth test flight of its powerful Starship, the company has released stunning images showcasing the rocket situated on the launchpad at the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. These images highlight the impressive nearly 400-foot-high rocket, featuring the 165-foot-tall upper stage positioned atop the Super Heavy booster.

The test flight is set for Monday, November 18, with a focus on testing new functionalities, including igniting one of the Raptor engines on the upper stage while in space to assess future capabilities for executing a deorbit maneuver. The team is also aiming to successfully catch the returning booster for reuse using the massive “chopsticks” at the pad, a feat they accomplished for the first time during the fifth Starship test flight in October.

In an update, SpaceX stated, “The next Starship flight test aims to expand the boundaries of ship and booster capabilities and move closer to enabling the reusability of the entire system.” Key objectives include the booster returning to the launch site for a catch, reigniting a ship Raptor engine in space, and executing a series of heatshield experiments along with maneuvering tests during descent over the Indian Ocean.

Among the images is a playful decal featuring a pixelated banana, humorously holding a real banana—an inside joke among engineers about using a banana for scale. It’s a lighthearted detail that adds character to the Starship.

Alongside the preparations for the upcoming test flight, SpaceX successfully conducted another Starlink launch today, marking the company’s 17th launch in just 31 days. A Falcon 9 rocket took off at 8:21 a.m. ET (5:21 a.m. PT) on November 14 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, deploying 24 Starlink satellites shortly afterward. This follows a previous launch the day before, which involved 20 Starlink satellites lifted off at 9:23 p.m. PT on November 13 (12:23 a.m. ET on November 14) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

SpaceX also shared visuals of the recent launch, featuring a Falcon 9 rocket soaring against the clear blue skies over Florida: