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SpaceX is preparing to launch its next Starship test flight, a mission that will attempt to capture the world’s largest rocket for a second time on Monday, November 18. But if you’re hoping to watch the launch live online, you need to know when to tune in.

Currently, SpaceX Spacecraft Flight 6 test flight should be launched at the earliest Monday, November 18 at 5:00 p.m. EST (9:00 p.m. GMT) from the company’s Starbase location in South Texas near Boca Chica Beach. This will be SpaceX’s sixth test flight of a Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster, as well as the second attempt to catch the giant Super Heavy after a breathtaking launch and rocket capture last month.

You can watch the launch live on Space.com, courtesy of EspaceXin a livestream that will likely start about 30 minutes before launch time. Follow our Starship Live Updates for more stages of the mission.

What time is SpaceX’s Starship Flight 6 test launch?

At press time, Starship Flight 6 testing is expected to launch at 5:00 p.m. EST (9:00 p.m. GMT) or 4:00 p.m. CST from SpaceX’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. SpaceX has a 30-minute window to launch the Flight 5 mission. This means Starship Flight 6 could take off between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST (9:30 p.m. GMT).

“The upcoming Starship flight test aims to expand the capabilities of ships and boosters and move closer to online reuse of the entire system.” SpaceX wrote in a mission overview.

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SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy Booster stand nearly 400 feet tall (122 meters) when fully assembled, making it the world’s tallest rocket. The Starship’s 33 Raptor engines on the first stage and six other engines on the upper stage also make it the most powerful launch vehicle in the world.

The first spacecraft to reach space was the Flight 3 test vehicle, which was launched on March 14. Vol 4, June 6was a complete success, with Super Heavy and Starship landing in their respective landing zones.

SpaceX made a more grandiose demonstration on October 13 with Flight 5. This mission not only sent its ship into space and landed it in the Indian Ocean, but also sent its Super Heavy booster back to Earth during a successful capture by the “Mechazilla” gantry arms on the Starbase launch tower.

Starship’s sixth test flight aims to replicate the success of SpaceX’s Flight 5, as well as test new systems, the company said in a mission overview.

“Objectives include returning the booster to the launch site for capture, restarting the engine of a Raptor ship in space, and testing a series of heat shield experiments and maneuver changes for re-entry and descent of the ship over the Indian Ocean,” SpaceX wrote. “Hardware upgrades for this flight add additional redundancy to the booster’s propulsion systems, increase structural strength in key areas, and shorten the time to unload the booster’s propellants after successful capture. Mission designers also put updates software controls and engagement criteria for booster launch and return.”

SpaceX designs its Starship and Super Heavy rockets to be a fully reusable launch system. NASA chose Starship to land its Artemis 3 astronauts on the Moon by 2026, with SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk stating that the company try launching a spaceship to Mars from that year.

Related: Read our SpaceX Guide to Space and Super Heavy Ships for a detailed overview

Can I watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight 6 launch?

Yes, you will be able to watch SpaceX’s Starship Flight 6 test launch online. As with previous Starship launches, you will be able to follow several live streams to watch the launch, including on Space.com.

The live stream of SpaceX’s official launch is available on the company’s website. account (formerly Twitter), as well as its Flight 6 mission pagestarting 30 minutes before takeoff around 4:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT). Space.com VideoFromSpace YouTube Channel will simulcast the official SpaceX webcast, and it will appear on this page and at the top of our home page. This timing could change if SpaceX changes the launch time.

THE NASASpaceflight.com YouTube Channelas well as Everyday Astronaut, are some examples of other sites that will offer live views of SpaceX spacecraft activities at Starbase and other locations ahead of launch. NASASpaceflight.com, in particular, will likely feature live views during fueling processes and pre-launch checks before SpaceX’s webcast begins.

If you can drive to Starbase, you can try to watch the launch live in person, but be aware that SpaceX does not have an official viewing site. However, the Starship platform is visible from several public beaches in the area.

On South Padre Island, for example, you can find beautiful views and a clear line of sight to SpaceX’s Starship Pad from Isla Blanca Park and the Cameron County Amphitheater. This place is where I watched SpaceX’s Starship Flight 1 starting in April 2023. The shoreline of nearby Port Isabel can also be a good viewing area for launches. Traffic can be heavy at both locations, so arriving early is advised. Don’t forget to pack a folding chair, snacks, water, insect repellent, and other essentials.

How long is SpaceX spacecraft flight 6?

The test flight of SpaceX’s Flight 6 spacecraft is expected to last just over an hour, based on its current 65-minute flight plan. It is expected to follow a trajectory similar to that of Flight 5, which launched a Starship vehicle on a trajectory that entered space, rolled for a time, then re-entered over the Indian Ocean, l Western Australia.

“The returning booster will slow down from supersonic speeds, resulting in audible sonic booms in the area around the landing zone,” SpaceX wrote in its mission overview. “The Starship upper stage will follow the same suborbital trajectory as in the previous flight test, with a targeted splashdown in the Indian Ocean. An additional objective of this flight will be to attempt a space burn using a single Raptor engine, demonstrating the capabilities required to perform a deorbit burn of the ship prior to orbital missions.

While SpaceX hopes to recover the Super Heavy booster by catching it in giant metal “rods” on the launch tower, the company could abandon the attempt if one factor isn’t perfect. If any of the criteria is not met, SpaceX could choose to land the rocket softly in the Gulf of Mexicoas was the case on flight 4.

“We accept no compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public and our team, and return will only take place if conditions are right,” SpaceX wrote.

What if Starship can’t launch on Monday?

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If SpaceX fails to launch Starship Flight 6 on November 18, the company may be able to try again 24 hours later on November 19.

Officials in Cameron County, the South Texas region that includes SpaceX’s Starbase facility, have issued a road and beach closure alert for Boca Chica Beach for launch day on November 18. with “alternate days” on November 19 and 20. These closures extend from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time over the three days, suggesting that SpaceX may have at least three opportunities to launch Flight 6 next week.

However, any backup launch attempt depends on how far SpaceX goes in its Starship and Super Heavy refueling process during a launch countdown. The company has said in the past that it would take several days to replenish the more than 10 million pounds of liquid methane propellant and very cold liquid oxygen needed for launch.

“As is the case with all development testing, the schedule is dynamic and subject to change, so be sure to register here and stay tuned to our X account for updates,” a writes SpaceX in a Flight 6 mission overview.

Editor’s note: Visit Space.com on November 18 for complete coverage of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 5 test launch.