SpaceX is launching a Starship test flight in Texas. Two failed attempts ignite concern

Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORK
Updated ·2 min read

Note: This story is no longer being actively updated. To see the latest information, go to our Thursday live updates story.

SpaceX is gearing up for its third Starship test flight as early as Thursday — marking the rocket's third time to deploy from the Lone Star State.

After two failed attempts within the last 11 months, critics are wary.

What went wrong with previous SpaceX launches in Texas?

SpaceX launched the first Starship test flight in April, but the vehicle encountered issues only 24 miles above the Gulf of Mexico when leaking propellant caused a fire in the Super Heavy booster, according to a story in Florida Today. This caused SpaceX to lose communication and control of the vehicle, but the Autonomous Flight Safety System took over and it detonated in less than four minutes.

In late July, debris from an April mission was still scattered near the Starship launch tower at SpaceX's Starbase. The company is awaiting final approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration for its next flight.
In late July, debris from an April mission was still scattered near the Starship launch tower at SpaceX's Starbase. The company is awaiting final approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration for its next flight.

In November, the Starship took flight again, reaching space for the first time, according to the SpaceX website. However, it encountered issues with the liquid oxygen supply during the flight, resulting in the failure of one engine and causing the vehicle to ignite into flames.

According to the SpaceX website, the failure was “determined to be filter blockage where liquid oxygen is supplied to the engines, leading to a loss of inlet pressure in engine oxidizer pumps that eventually resulted in one engine failing in a way that resulted in the loss of the vehicle."

The upcoming third test flight will include vehicle upgrades.

More: Elon Musk plans $100 million expansion to SpaceX Starbase office in Brownsville

Where in Texas is SpaceX launching from?

Starship, SpaceX's most powerful rocket, is prepping its launch from the company's Starbase in Boca Chica, a beach town that sits off the Gulf of Mexico about 20 miles from the border.

What time is SpaceX starship launch?

SpaceX is still pending regulatory approval and has not yet received a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration for its next Starship launch, according to its website. However, the company has scheduled a livestream on its website and on X (formerly Twitter) that begins at 6:30 a.m. Central Time.

According to the website, the live webcast is scheduled about 30 minutes before liftoff.

Why launch on Pi Day?

The potential launch scheduled for Thursday falls on March 14, coinciding with the annual Pi Day. This date (3/14) holds significance as it represents the first three digits of the Pi constant: 3.14.

The Pi constant is used to calculate several data points for spacecrafts, according to Florida Today, including:

  • How much fuel remains in the tanks during flight.

  • The orbital period of a spacecraft, which signifies the time it takes for one object to orbit another.

Pi is also used to get a spacecraft into orbit around another planet, which aligns with SpaceX's long-term plan to fly Starship to the moon and eventually Mars.

Space Reporter Brooke Edwards with Florida Today contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: SpaceX launching third Starship test flight in Texas: What to know