SpaceX will launch its next Starship megarocket test flight early Thursday morning, June 6, and if you’re hoping to watch it live, you’ll need to know when and where to tune in. And for that, dear space fans, we have what you need.
SpaceX is focused on 8:00 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) launch for its Starship Flight 4 test flight of starships and Super Heavy megarockets from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas. While this time may change a bit before launch, it’s a great goal to time your party.
SpaceX will offer a free live webcast of the Starship Flight 4 launch beginning around 7 p.m 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT). You can watch the live stream here on Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX. Here’s a look at exactly when and how to watch the next Starship launch.
What time does SpaceX Flight 4 launch?
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 is currently scheduled to launch on 8:00 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) or 7:00 a.m. CDT from Starbase’s test site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. However, SpaceX has a 120-minute window to launch Flight 4, so Starship can lift off anytime between 8 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT).
“As with all development tests, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to follow our X account for updates,” SpaceX wrote in the mission description.
The starship and its Super Heavy booster are the most powerful rocket in the world. When stacked together, they are nearly 400 feet (122 meters) tall, with the first stage powered by 33 Raptor engines and the Starship upper stage by six Raptors.
The Starship launch system is designed to be fully reusable and fly to deep space destinations such as the Moon, Mars and beyond, SpaceX said. NASA has selected Starship to land its Artemis 3 astronauts on the Moon in late 2026. But before the Starship lands on the moon, it must get into space and prove it can return safely. That’s what Flight 4 is about.
“The fourth flight test turns our attention from achieving orbit to demonstrating the ability to return and reuse the Starship and Super Heavy,” SpaceX said in the mission description. SpaceX has launched three test flights so far, with the first two failing to reach space. Starship Flight 3 reached space, but both the Starship and the Super Heavy stage disintegrated upon return to Earth.
Related: For a detailed overview, see our SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy guide
Can I watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 launch?
Yes, you’ll be able to watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 launch online, and you’ll be able to choose where to watch.
The first and most visible place to follow the launch will be SpaceX’s X (formerly Twitter) account. 30 minutes before kick-off – so about 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT).
Space.com will be live streaming SpaceX on our own VideoFromSpace YouTube channel, as well as on our home page and at the top of this page.
If you want to check the status of SpaceX’s Flight 4 BEFORE SpaceX’s live broadcast, consider tuning into NASASpaceflight.com’s YouTube channel, which offers live views of SpaceX’s spacecraft, bases and other locations, and will likely offer live commentary during the refueling process. .
If you happen to be in or near the Boca Chica, Texas area and are hoping to watch a starship launch in person, you have a few places to choose from.
SpaceX doesn’t have an official website, but you can visit several public beaches to see the launch. Nearby South Padre Island offers clear views of the rocket from the coast near the Cameron County Amphitheater and Isla Blanca Park. Similar beach vantage points can also be found along the nearby shore of Port Isabel.
I actually watched the launch of Starship Flight 1 in April 2023 from the Cameron County Amphitheater on South Padre Island, and I can assure you that it offers an unobstructed view (except for some ships in the harbor) for spectators on the beach. (There’s also a public restroom, always a plus.) You’ll want to bring a folding chair, water, sunscreen, and other supplies. Traffic to and from the site can be heavy, so consider this when planning your trip.
How long does the SpaceX 4 starship flight take?
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 is expected to last just over one hour if all goes according to plan.
Flight 4 will follow a similar trajectory to the March 14 launch of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 3, which aimed for a 65-minute mission from launch to splash of the Starship in the Indian Ocean.
“This flight path does not require deorbital reentry, maximizing public safety while providing an opportunity to meet our primary goal of controlled starship reentry,” SpaceX wrote in its mission description.
Meanwhile, the Super Heavy booster is expected to fly for nearly 7 minutes, with a landing burn scheduled for 6 minutes, 43 seconds after liftoff. SpaceX hopes to make a controlled “landing” and gentle splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, miles off the coast of Boca Chica Beach.
| TIME (h:min:sec) | EVENT | Header Cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| T-1:15:00 | Flight director survey for fuel loading | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:49:00 | The liquid methane loading from the starship begins | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:47:00 | The liquid oxygen filling of the starship begins | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:40:00 | Super heavy filling with liquid methane begins | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:37:00 | Superheavy liquid oxygen filling begins | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:19:40 | Super Heavy Raptor engine cooling | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:3:20 | Starship refueling completed | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:2:50 | Super heavy tanking completed | Row 7 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:0:30 | GO flight director to take off | Row 8 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:00:10 | Flame deflector activation | Row 9 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:00:03 | Starting the Raptor ignition sequence | Row 10 – cell 2 |
| T-00:00:00 | Liftoff (“excitement guaranteed,” as SpaceX says.) | Row 11 – Cell 2 |
| TIME (h:min:sec) | FLIGHT PROMOTION | Header Cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| T+00:02 | Lift | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| T+01:02 | Starship/Super Heavy Max Q range | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:41 | Super Heavy disconnecting the main engine | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:45 | Starship Raptor engine hot stage/ignition compartment | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:49 | Starting Super Heavy boostback combustion | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| T+3:52 | Super Heavy boostback burn engine shutdown | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| T+3:54 | Throwing away the hot stage | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
| T+6:39 | Super Heavy is transonic | Row 7 – Cell 2 |
| T+6:43 | Super Heavy landing burn start | Row 8 – Cell 2 |
What if the Starship can’t launch on Thursday?
If SpaceX is unable to launch Starship Flight 4 on June 6, chances are the company has at least one (if not more) backup days to fall back on.
Officials in Cameron County, the South Texas region that includes SpaceX’s Starbase facility, listed June 7 and 8 as backup days, according to the beach closure advisory. These closures on both days are from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM local time or approximately 1:00 AM to 3:00 PM EDT.
Of course, any attempt at a backup launch would depend on how far SpaceX goes in the Starship and Super Heavy refueling process. In the past, SpaceX has said it takes days to replenish the more than 10 million pounds of supercooled liquid methane and liquid oxygen needed for launch.
If a technical problem delays the launch of Starship Flight 4, SpaceX will likely have to wait until it is resolved and try again.