SpaceX Plans Sixth Starship Test Flight on Nov. 18

SpaceX is preparing for the sixth test flight of its Starship Super Heavy on November 18, aiming to further demonstrate the spacecraft's reusability capabilities. Following the success of the fifth flight on October 13, where the Super Heavy booster was caught by the launch tower upon return, the upcoming mission will include objectives such as reigniting a Raptor engine in space and conducting heat-shield experiments during reentry over the Indian Ocean. Additionally, SpaceX is planning two Falcon 9 launches on Veterans Day, with one carrying the Koreasat-6A mission and the other delivering Starlink satellites. CEO Elon Musk has indicated a goal of achieving a launch cadence of one Starship every two weeks by late 2025, which is a faster timeline than previously expected. The successful catch of the booster has been a significant milestone, and future flights will focus on catching the upper-stage Starship as well. These developments are crucial for SpaceX's ambition to support NASA's Artemis program and facilitate human exploration of the Moon and beyond.