By Adrian Beil April 28 2024

SpaceX's Starship Rocket Nears Fourth Test Flight

By Adrian Beil April 28 2024

SpaceX's Starship rocket, a futuristic vehicle designed to eventually carry astronauts to the moon and beyond, will probably have its fourth test flight in the next month or so, according to Elon Musk, the company's founder and CEO.

The fourth flight will be a "wet dress rehearsal," meaning that the rocket will be fueled and go through all the steps of a launch, but it will not actually lift off.

This will be a major milestone for SpaceX, as it will be the first time that the Starship has been fully fueled and gone through all the steps of a launch. The successful completion of this test will pave the way for the rocket's first orbital flight, which is expected to take place later this year.

The Starship is a massive rocket, standing over 390 feet tall and 30 feet wide. It is powered by 33 Raptor engines, which are the most powerful rocket engines ever developed. The Starship is designed to be fully reusable, meaning that it can be landed and reflown multiple times.

SpaceX is developing the Starship to be used for a variety of purposes, including carrying astronauts to the moon and Mars, launching satellites into orbit, and transporting cargo to and from space.