Starship Completes Sixth Test Flight, Achieving Key Reusability Milestones

Starship's Sixth Flight Test

SpaceX conducted the sixth test flight of its Starship system on November 19, 2024, from Starbase, Texas, marking significant progress toward full reusability of the spacecraft and booster. The mission tested both the Super Heavy booster and Starship’s critical capabilities.

The Super Heavy booster, powered by 33 Raptor engines, lifted off successfully at the start of the launch window. After a nominal ascent and stage separation, the booster initiated a boostback burn to return to the launch site. However, automated health checks at the launch and catch tower triggered an abort of the catch attempt. Instead, the booster executed a pre-planned divert maneuver, concluding with a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Meanwhile, the Starship spacecraft continued its mission flawlessly. It ascended on its intended trajectory, reigniting a single Raptor engine in space to demonstrate deorbit burn capabilities—crucial for future fully orbital missions. Starship then reentered Earth’s atmosphere, completing a controlled flip maneuver, landing burn, and soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

The flight gathered valuable data on thermal protection systems and subsonic flight dynamics at aggressive angles of attack. These insights are essential for refining the hardware as SpaceX advances toward fully reusable spaceflight.

With every test, SpaceX brings its Starship closer to operational reliability, cementing its role as a cornerstone of future space exploration and transportation.

Watch the full Starship 6th test flight video showcasing reusability milestones and splashdown success here.

Article Reference/Source: SpaceX - Launches.