SpaceX’s Starship embarked on its sixth integrated test flight on November 19, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. While the Super Heavy booster ultimately splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico instead of being caught by the Mechazilla tower, the mission still marked significant progress for the ambitious spacecraft.
Starship launchSpaceX’s Starship shortly after launch on November 19, 2024. The sixth test flight achieved key milestones despite the booster’s ocean splashdown. Photo: C&J Images
During the live broadcast, a SpaceX spokesperson explained that numerous factors need to align perfectly for a successful Mechazilla catch. Approximately four minutes after liftoff, SpaceX announced the booster catch was aborted due to safety concerns for personnel, the public, and the launchpad. Instead, the booster performed a controlled “soft soggy landing” in the Gulf.
Super Heavy initiates its landing burn and softly splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico pic.twitter.com/BZ3Az4GssC
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 19, 2024
Despite the change in plans, the booster’s descent and splashdown remained a captivating spectacle. Thirteen engines ignited during the descent, reducing to three just before gently entering the water roughly seven minutes post-launch.
Booster SplashdownThe Super Heavy booster executes a controlled descent, firing its engines before splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Image: SpaceX via Twitter
Starship is on its way down now, picking up speed. pic.twitter.com/DB1EJyKrfu
— Scott Manley (@DJSnM) November 19, 2024
This sixth test flight achieved several significant milestones. Notably, for the first time, one of Starship’s six Raptor engines re-ignited in space. The mission also marked the first payload carried by Starship: a plush banana serving as a zero-gravity indicator. Furthermore, the upper stage successfully completed re-entry and performed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean at 6:05 p.m. ET.
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting sixth flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/bf98Va9qmL
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 19, 2024
Starship’s journey towards operational status has been a series of iterative improvements. The inaugural launch in April 2023 ended with a self-destruct command after the vehicle tumbled out of control. The second test flight in November 2023 saw the in-flight destruction of both stages. However, the third flight in March demonstrated successful stage separation, engine burns, propellant transfer, and Starlink dispenser deployment. The fourth flight in June marked a major leap, with the rocket largely surviving the intense heat and pressure of re-entry. The fifth test flight in October witnessed the first successful soft landing of the Super Heavy booster, caught by the Mechazilla tower.
SpaceX aims to eventually recover and reuse both Starship stages. CEO Elon Musk has stated his goal of catching the upper stage with Mechazilla by early next year. SpaceX is also pushing for increased launch frequency, with Musk targeting 25 launches in 2025.
The presence of President-elect Donald Trump, along with his growing relationship with Elon Musk, added a further layer of interest to this latest test flight. This alliance might influence future Starship development and launch schedules.
