SpaceX Targets May 27 for Starship Flight 9 Launch

SpaceX has announced a target date for its next Starship megarocket flight, aiming for a successful mission after two previous attempts earlier this year. The launch, known as Starship Flight 9, is scheduled to take place no earlier than May 27 at 7:30 PM EDT (2330 GMT) from the company’s Starbase test site in South Texas.

This mission marks the first attempt to reuse the Super Heavy booster, the first stage of Starship, in a significant step toward full reusability. It will also be the ninth test flight of the massive rocket.

Earlier this year, Flight 7 in January and Flight 8 in March faced setbacks, with the Super Heavy booster successfully returning to Earth, but the Ship stage failing soon after liftoff. SpaceX has since worked on improvements to ensure a smoother flight.

The exact launch time may vary depending on the vehicle’s condition. Texas local time will be 6:30 PM, and SpaceX has previously operated within 30-minute launch windows, meaning liftoff could occur between 7:30 and 8 PM EDT (2330-0000 GMT).

Local authorities have announced road closures through May 29, suggesting that backup launch dates on May 28 and May 29 are possible if needed.