At 8AM ET today, SpaceX will begin a 20-minute launch window for Starship’s second fully integrated test flight. If all goes well, we will see the spacecraft make another attempt to reach space. The company’s first fully integrated launch in April was considered a success, but it did not meet all its objectives and the spacecraft had to be intentionally blown up after its two stages failed to separate.
As a result of the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded Starship while conducting an investigation. Debris was scattered over 385 acres of land, causing damage and starting a wildfire. The FAA required SpaceX to make 63 corrective actions before allowing the company to fly its reusable spacecraft again.
SpaceX has made several changes for this flight, including a new hot-stage separation system, a new electronic Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system for Super Heavy Raptor engines, reinforcements to the pad foundation, and a water-cooled steel flame deflector.
The live broadcast of the launch starts at 7:24AM ET on the company’s website and on X. If the stages can successfully separate this time, the upper stage will fly across the planet before splashing down off a Hawaiian coast.
