SpaceX is set to launch the Starship SN11 prototype to an altitude of approximately 10 kilometers. A launch attempt is possible in the afternoon local time on Friday. However, as with testing, there is always a chance that teams could decide to stand down and try again on a different day. This original content is copyrighted to NASASpaceflight (NASASpaceflight.com) and is not to be reused in any form without explicit permission. Updates: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53270.220 Articles: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/starship/ Shop: https://shop.nasaspaceflight.com/

On Tuesday, March 30, SpaceX launched its fourth high-altitude flight test of Starship from Starbase in Texas. Similar to previous high-altitude flight tests, Starship Serial Number 11 (SN11) was powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN11 performed a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent. Shortly after the landing burn started, SN11 experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly. Teams will continue to review data from and work toward our next flight test. Test flights are all about improving our understanding and development of a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo on long-duration interplanetary flights, and help humanity return to the Moon, and travel to Mars and beyond.