SpaceX will launch its next Starship megarocket test flight early Thursday, June 6, and if you want to watch it live, you’ll need to know when and where to tune in. For that, dear space fans, we have what you need.
Aimed at SpaceX 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) The Starship Flight 4 test flight of the Starship and superheavy megarocket launched from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas. Although that time may change slightly prior to launch, this is a good target for your watch party.
SpaceX will host a free live webcast of the Starship Flight 4 launch 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT). You can watch the live stream here on Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX. Here’s how and when to watch Starship’s next release.
What is the launch time of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4?
Currently, SpaceX’s Starship is scheduled to launch on Flight 4 8 am EDT (1200 GMT), or 7 am CDT from the company’s Starbase test site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. However, SpaceX has a 120-minute window to launch the Flight 4 mission, so the Starship could take off any time before 8 a.m. 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT).
“As with all development experiments, the schedule is dynamic and subject to change, so stay tuned to our X account for updates,” SpaceX wrote. In a job description.
The Starship and its Super Heavy Booster are the most powerful rockets in the world. When stacked together, they stand 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 capable of flying to the Moon, Mars or deep beyond, SpaceX said. NASA has selected the Starship to land Artemis 3 astronauts on the Moon in late 2026. But before the starship can land on the moon, it must prove it can reach space and re-enter safely. That’s Flight 4.
“The fourth flight test shifts our focus from achieving orbit to demonstrating the Starship and SuperHeavy’s ability to be reused,” SpaceX said in a mission statement. 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 superheavy stages broke up on the way back to Earth.
Related: Check out our SpaceX Starship and Superheavy guide for a detailed look
Can I see SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 launch?
Yes, you can watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 launch online, and you can choose where to watch.
The first and most obvious place to look would be output SpaceX’s X account (formerly Twitter), Launching 30 minutes before departure – so, 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT).
Space.com will carry the SpaceX livestream ourselves VideoFromSpace YouTube ChannelAlso on our home page and at the top of this page.
If you want to see SpaceX’s Flight 4 status before SpaceX’s livestream, check it out NASASpaceflight.com’s YouTube channelIt offers live views of SpaceX’s starship, starbase pads and other locations, and will provide live commentary during the refueling process.
If you’re in or near the Boca Chica, Texas area and want to see the Starship launch in person, there are several locations you can choose from.
SpaceX doesn’t have an official viewing platform, but you can visit several public beaches to watch the launch. Nearby South Padre Island offers clear views of the rocket from beaches near the Cameron County Amphitheater and Isla Blanca Park. You can also find similar beach-viewing spots on the nearby shores of Port Isabel.
I actually watched the launch of Starship Flight 1 from South Padre Island’s Cameron County Amphitheater in April 2023, and I can assure you that it offers unobstructed views (except for a few boats in the harbor) for spectators on the beach. (There is a public restroom, always a plus.) You should bring a folding chair, water, sunscreen, and other supplies. Traffic to and from the site can be heavy, so take this into account in your travel planning.
How long was SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4?
If all goes according to plan, SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 is expected to last just over an hour.
Flight 4 will fly a similar route to SpaceX’s Starship Flight 3 launch on March 14, aiming for a 65-minute journey from launch to Starship splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
“This flight path does not require a orbital burn for re-entry, maximizing public safety while providing an opportunity to meet our primary objective of controlled starship re-entry,” SpaceX wrote in its mission statement.
The Super Heavy Booster, meanwhile, is expected to fly for approximately 7 minutes, with a landing burn scheduled for 6 minutes, 43 seconds. SpaceX hopes to make a controlled “landing” and gentle splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, miles off the coast of Boca Chica.
| TIME (hr:min:s) | event | Header Cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| T-1:15:00 | Flight director survey for fueling | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:49:00 | Starship begins loading liquid methane | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:47:00 | Starship liquid oxygen loading begins | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:40:00 | Loading of Super Heavy Liquid Methane begins | Row 3 – cell 2 |
| T-0:37:00 | Super heavy liquid oxygen loading begins | Row 4 – cell 2 |
| T-00:19:40 | Super Heavy Raptor Engine Chilldown | Row 5 – cell 2 |
| T-00:3:20 | Starship refueling completed | Row 6 – cell 2 |
| T-00:2:50 | Super heavy refueling is complete | Row 7 – cell 2 |
| T-00:0:30 | Flight Director G.O | Row 8 – cell 2 |
| T-00:00:10 | Flame deflector activation | Row 9 – cell 2 |
| T-00:00:03 | Raptor ignition sequence start | Row 10 – cell 2 |
| T-00:00:00 | Liftoff (“Excitement guaranteed,” as SpaceX says.) | Row 11 – cell 2 |
| TIME (hr:min:s) | Flight event | Header Cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| T+00:02 | Liftoff | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| T+01:02 | Starship/Super Heavy Reach Max Q | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:41 | Super heavy main engine cutoff | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:45 | Hot-staging separation/starship raptor engine ignition | Row 3 – cell 2 |
| T+2:49 | Super heavy boostback burn startup | Row 4 – cell 2 |
| T+3:52 | Super heavy boostback burn engine shutdown | Row 5 – cell 2 |
| T+3:54 | Hot-stage jettison | Row 6 – cell 2 |
| T+6:39 | Super Heavy Transonic | Row 7 – cell 2 |
| T+6:43 | Super heavy landing burn startup | Row 8 – cell 2 |
What if Starship can’t launch on Thursday?
If SpaceX can’t launch Starship Flight 4 on June 6, the company has at least one (if not more) backup days.
Officials in Cameron County, the region in South Texas that includes SpaceX’s Starbase facility, have listed June 7 and June 8 as backup days. A beach closure advisory to the public. Those closures will run from 12 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, or approximately 1 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT, both days.
Of course, any backup launch effort depends on how far SpaceX goes with the starship and superheavy fuel process. In the past, SpaceX has said it would take several days to recover the more than 10 million pounds of super-cold liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellant needed for launch.
If a technical problem delays the launch of Starship Flight 4, SpaceX may have to wait until it is resolved before trying again.
