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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — SpaceX is preparing to launch its seventh flight test of Starship— a new generation ship with all new upgrades.
Starship will launch out of Texas at 12:10 p.m. on Sunday.
Sunday’s launch will include a first attempt at payload deployment tests, flying multiple reentry experiments for catch and reuse, and returning to the Super Heavy booster, SpaceX said.
The upgrades and redesigns on these ships will allow reduced exposure to reentry heating, longer missions, and protection from missing or damaged tiles, among other improvements. Integrated antennas will also allow for more powerful inertial navigation and star-tracking sensors.
During its seventh flight, 10 Starlink simulators will be deployed. The ship will also include several stress tests including experimenting with tile removals, alternative materials for protection during reentry, structural limits of the flaps, and thermal performance.
“This new year will be transformational for Starship, with the goal of bringing reuse of the entire system online and flying increasingly ambitious missions as we iterate towards being able to send humans and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars,” SpaceX said.
For a more in-depth description of the Starship and its mission, visit SpaceX’s website.
WFLA.com will live stream the launch on Sunday afternoon, which can be viewed in the video player above.