FIRST ORBITAL TEST FLIGHT OF SPACEX’S STARSHIP, Apr 20, 2023, Boca Chica, TX, 9:28-10:30 am ET

Update, April 17:  SpaceX says it now is working towards launch on April 20, 2023 between 8:28-9:30 am CENTRAL Time (9:28-10:30 am EDT). Like last time, SpaceX’s webcast will begin 45 minutes before launch.

Teams are working towards Thursday, April 20 for the first flight test of a fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy rocket → https://t.co/bG5tsCUanp pic.twitter.com/umcqhJCGai

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 17, 2023

Update, April 17, 9:15-9:30 am ET:  The launch was scrubbed because of pressurization issue on the first stage. They continued the countdown to T-40 seconds as a Wet Dress Rehearsal, but did not launch.  Musk tweeted they will try again “in a few days.”  SpaceX’s Kate Tice said on SpaceX’s webcast that it is a minimum of a 48-hour turnaround.

Update, April 16, 9:20 pm ET:  SpaceX just tweeted that it is targeting 8:00 am Central Time (9:00 am Eastern) for liftoff.

T-12 hours until the first flight test of a fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy rocket; targeting ~8:00 a.m. CT for liftoff → https://t.co/bJFjLCilmc pic.twitter.com/dZTNuOnKPr

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 17, 2023

Update, April 14: The FAA issued the license allowing SpaceX to conduct this test today and SpaceX is planning to launch on Monday, April 17. The launch window opens at 7:00 am Central Time (8:00 am Eastern). The company says it is a 150 minute launch window, which would mean launch could take place through 10:30 am ET although the FAA’s NOTAM closing the airspace to aircraft is through 11:05 am ET.

SpaceX says it will webcast the launch beginning 45 minutes before liftoff.

The flight is scheduled to last for 1 hour and 30 minutes if all goes according to plan. The first stage — Super Heavy — will splash down in the Gulf of Mexico next Boca Chica shortly after launch. The second stage — Starship — will splash down near Hawaii.

Original Entry: Rumors have been circulating for weeks about when SpaceX will launch the Starship/Super Heavy rocket for the first time.  As of April 13, it appears that April 17 is a good possibility, but only a possibility. Elon Musk has tweeted that the rocket is ready to go and they are only waiting for a license from the FAA.

SpaceX has posted the countdown sequence, flight sequence, and flight path on its website. If all goes according to plan, the first stage, Super Heavy, will separate from the second stage, Starship, and return to a soft landing in the ocean near Boca Chica about 8 minutes after launch. Starship will travel around the Earth and splashdown off of Hawaii, not quite making one orbit of the Earth although many are calling this the first orbital test flight of the rocket.

Many things could happen to change the date of this launch.  Stay tuned.