SpaceX is preparing for the 10th test flight of its Starship rocket, scheduled to launch from its Texas site with the launch window opening at 7:30 PM ET (6:30 PM CT). The flight test will be livestreamed on the SpaceX website and X, with a webcast commencing 30 minutes prior to launch.
Weather conditions present a potential hurdle, with only a 45 percent chance of favorable conditions reported on Saturday. Backup launch opportunities are available on August 25 and 26, according to Space.com.
Flight 10 follows a series of unsuccessful test flights, Flights 7, 8, and 9, and an incident in June where a Starship vehicle exploded during preparations for a static fire test. During this flight, Starship intends to deploy eight dummy Starlink satellites and conduct experiments focused on enabling the upper stage’s return to the launch site in future missions. The test flight is expected to last just over an hour and conclude with a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
