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 targeting one 08:00 EDT (1200 GMT) took off for its Starship Flight 4 test flight of the Starship and Super Heavy megarocket from the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas. While that time may change slightly before departure, it’s a great target to time your watch party.
SpaceX will provide a live webcast of the launch of Starship Flight 4 beginning at approximately 1 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 when and how to watch the next Starship release.
What time does SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 take off?
Currently, SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 is scheduled to launch at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) or 7 a.m. 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 lift off anytime between 8 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT).
“As with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to stay tuned to our X account for updates,” SpaceX wrote in a mission description.
The Starship and its Super Heavy booster are the most powerful rockets in the world. When stacked together, they are nearly 400 feet long (122 meters), 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 or beyond, SpaceX said. NASA has chosen Starship to land its Artemis 3 astronauts on the Moon in late 2026. But before Starship can land on the Moon, it must reach space and prove it can safely re-enter. This is what Flight 4 is all about.
“The fourth flight test shifts our focus 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 Super Heavy stages separated during the return to Earth.
Connected: See our SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy guide for a detailed look
Can I watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight 4 launch?
Yes, you will be able to watch the launch of SpaceX Starship Flight 4 online and you will have your choice of where to watch.
The first and most obvious place to watch the launch will be on SpaceX’s X account (formerly Twitter), starting 30 minutes before liftoff — so around 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT).
Space.com will live stream the SpaceX live stream on our VideoFromSpace YouTube channel, as well as on our homepage and at the top of this page.
If you’re looking to check the status of SpaceX Flight 4 BEFORE the SpaceX livestream, consider tuning in to NASASpaceflight.com’s YouTube channel, which offers live footage of SpaceX’s Starship, Starbase pads and other locations, and has likely to provide direct feedback during the fueling process.
If you’re in or near the Boca Chica, Texas area and hoping to watch the Starship launch in person, you have a few locations to choose from.
SpaceX doesn’t have an official viewing site, but you can visit some public beaches to watch the launch. Nearby South Padre Island offers clear views of the rocket from the shoreline near the Cameron County Amphitheater and Isla Blanca Park. You can also find similar vantage points on the beach along the nearby coast 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 unobstructed views (except for a few boats in the harbor) for spectators on the beach. (There’s also a public bathroom, always a plus.) You’ll want to bring a folding chair, water, sunscreen, and other gear. Traffic can be heavy to and from the location, so consider this in your travel planning.
How long is SpaceX’s Starship 4 flight?
SpaceX’s Starship 4 flight is expected to last just over an hour, if all goes according to plan.
Flight 4 will fly a similar trajectory to SpaceX’s Starship Flight 3 launch on March 14, which aimed for a 65-minute mission from launch to the Starship’s crash in the Indian Ocean.
“This flight path does not require a deorbital burn for reentry, maximizing public safety while still providing the opportunity to meet our primary objective of a controlled Starship reentry,” SpaceX wrote in its mission description.
The Super Heavy booster, meanwhile, 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 offshore of Boca Chica Beach.
| TIME (hr:min:sec) | event | Head cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| T-1:15:00 | Flight director survey for fuel loading | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| T-0:49:00 | Starship liquid methane loading begins | Row 1 – cell 2 |
| T-0:47:00 | Starship’s 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 duty liquid oxygen loading begins | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:19:40 | Super Heavy Raptor engine landing | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:3:20 | Starship refueling has ended | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:2:50 | Super heavy refueling ended | Row 7 – Cell 2 |
| T-00:00:30 | GO Flight Director for departure | 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 (“Thrill guaranteed,” as SpaceX puts it.) | Row 11 – Cell 2 |
| TIME (hr:min:sec) | FLIGHT EVENT | Head cell – Column 2 |
|---|---|---|
| T+00:02 | LODGING | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| T+01:02 | Starship/Super Heavy reaches Max Q | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:41 | Super heavy duty engine main break | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:45 | Hot Phase Separation/Starship Raptor Engine Ignition | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| T+2:49 | Starting with super heavy burns | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| T+3:52 | Super Heavy Duty Combustion Engine Shutdown | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| T+3:54 | Ship in hot phase | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
| T+6:39 | Super Heavy is transonic | Row 7 – Cell 2 |
| T+6:43 | Super Heavy Landing Combustion Launch | Row 8 – Cell 2 |
What if the Starship doesn’t launch on Thursday?
If SpaceX is unable to launch Starship Flight 4 on June 6, it’s likely the company will have at least one (if not more) days to fall back on.
Officials with Cameron County, the South Texas region that includes SpaceX’s Starbase facility, have listed June 7 and June 8 as backup days, according to a beach closure advisory to the public. These closures run from 12am to 2pm local time, or around 1am to 3pm EDT, on both days.
Of course, any backup launch effort will depend on how far SpaceX goes in the Starship and Super Heavy fuel process. In the past, SpaceX has said it takes several days to replenish the more than 10 million pounds of supercooled liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellant needed for launch.
If a technical problem delays the launch of Starship Flight 4, then SpaceX will likely wait until it is resolved to try again.