Watch as SpaceX launches Starship in third test flight of world’s biggest rocket
Watch as SpaceX launches its Starship rocket on Thursday 14 March, in a huge test of Elon Musk’s ambitions to send humans to Mars.
The third test flight of the world’s biggest rocket will see it lift off from a launchpad at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
Two previous attempts to fly the uncrewed rocket from Texas to Hawaii both ended in high-altitude explosions. The third launch will see a different route attempted, with a splashdown site in the Indian Ocean.
“Each of these flight tests continue to be just that: a test,” SpaceX said ahead of the Starship launch attempt.
“They aren’t occurring in a lab or on a test stand, but are putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximise learning.”
SpaceX suggested on Thursday morning that the weather was 70 per cent favourable for the launch attempt, which was scheduled for 8:25am local time (1:25pm GMT) after a number of pushbacks.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies