By ARABELLA SERRATA
Special to the PRESS
SpaceX will have its sixth Starship launch on Nov. 18 at 4 p.m., according to their official website.
This event follows the successful launch on Oct. 13, which was especially notable for furthering the company’s goal of reusable launch systems.
“On the first attempt, the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch site and was caught by the chopstick arms of the launch and catch tower at Starbase. Starship’s upper stage demonstrated several
improvements, resulting in a controlled entry and high accuracy splashdown at the targeted area in the Indian Ocean,” stated SpaceX officials.
The company stated that they have worked on hardware updates, strengthening key areas and shortening the time for the booster propellants to offload.
This upcoming launch strives to further the reusable launch system and meet some goals set by SpaceX. This includes the booster continuing their success and returning to the launch site. According to SpaceX,
additional goals include “reigniting a ship Raptor engine while in space, testing a suite of heatshield experiments, and maneuvering changes for ship reentry and descent over the Indian Ocean.” SpaceX also mentioned beginning their thermal tests on the project. This includes performing an in-space burn to test Starship and prove it is capable of reentry from orbital missions.
The launch is predicted to have the usual sonic boom, and a splashdown is expected in the Indian Ocean. The afternoon launch time is so the ship’s reentry can be observed more efficiently than an earlier launch
would allow. SpaceX also stated the ship will reenter at an angle, stressing the flap control area to gain information on “future landing profiles.”
This launch comes after the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality [TCEQ] canceled their Oct. 17 meeting to discuss SpaceX’s permit to “authorize the discharge of deluge water (used for launch and return to launch site activities), facility washdown water, and stormwater” according to an official meeting notice on the TCEQ website. This comes after SpaceX had 14 complaints against it for its unauthorized discharge of
deluge water.
According to the violation information, located in the Environmental Quality Investigation Report, the alleged discharge occurred on March 14, April 5, May 8, and July 26, 2024. The report states that SpaceX
implemented corrective measures by submitting for the appropriate permit. TCEQ then reviewed the application and reportedly “determined that the proposed activities do not cause adverse risk to the environment.”
The launch will be livestreamed on the SpaceX website or their profile on X. For more information, visit the website at spacex.com.
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