SpaceX SpaceX’s next Starship test flight will be the most ambitious to date, and the first involving a new “block 2” version with a host of design updates. Read more Sign up to newsletter It also includes, for the first time, an early version of the pins necessary for it to be caught by a ground tower and reused. However, SpaceX currently has only one tower, which will be used to catch the booster, so there will be no attempt to catch Starship for reuse this time. A second tower is under construction. What will the test flight entail? SpaceX hopes the upper stage will reach space, complete a partial orbit of Earth, safely re-enter the atmosphere and make a controlled splashdown into the Indian Ocean. The Super Heavy first stage should return to the launch site and be caught by the Mechazilla or “chopstick” arms of the launch tower – which will be the second catch if successful. The launch marks a milestone for SpaceX as Starship hardware will be reused for the first time. One of the Super Heavy’s 33 Raptor engines was previously used in Starship’s fifth test flight. That was the only test to date where the booster was safely returned, so this is the first opportunity the company has had to reuse anything. Another first will be Starship’s deployment of 10 fake Starlink satellites. These simulated satellites will be similar in size and weight to the company’s upcoming third generation of internet-beaming hardware, and will test the ability of Starship to carry payloads to orbit and safely launch them. No previous Starship flight has carried a payload, unless you count the toy banana carried on flight 6. Numerous other small tests will be carried out during the seventh flight to provide valuable data to engineers. One of Starship’s Raptor engines will be relit in space, for example, and several heat-resistant tiles have been removed as a test. Several types of new heat tile, including one with active cooling, are also being tested. When will the launch take place?