SpaceX's "most powerful launch vehicle" ever built, also known as Starship, has lifted off on its fourth test flight on Thursday, June 6, at 7:50 a.m. CT (8:50 a.m. ET), with live coverage streamed on X. 

The launch system, comprising the upper Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy rocket booster, took flight from the private Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

Initially scheduled for 7:20 a.m. CT (8:20 a.m. ET), the Starship launch faced a minor delay due to ground-side issues. Eventually, the flight test received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration two days prior, according to VCPost, just a day after Boeing's successful crewed mission of Starliner under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

The primary objectives include executing a landing burn and a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico for the Super Heavy booster and achieving a controlled entry of the Starship down in the Indian Ocean.

Marking as the company's second uncrewed test of 2024, SpaceX is focusing on demonstrating the reusability of the Starship vehicle and withstanding the extreme heat of re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. 

SpaceX has made major software and hardware upgrades to the launch system, incorporating lessons from the third flight and its share of dramatic test flights, with the first two attempts in 2023 ending in explosions.

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What is the purpose of SpaceX Starship?

Starship is designed to carry cargo and eventually crew to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, facilitating the establishment of human colonies and the exploration of deeper space. 

In fact, CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Starship to the company's mission of enabling human settlement on Mars. According to SpaceX, NASA has selected Starship for a key role in its Artemis program, aimed at returning humans to the moon. 

The first astronaut landing under the Artemis program is slated for as soon as September 2026.

Additionally, Starship's reusability is central to its commercial viability, reducing the cost of space travel by enabling the spacecraft and its booster to be used multiple times. This is expected to lower launch costs and increase the frequency of missions, making space more accessible for various commercial activities.

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