SpaceX’s much-anticipated Starship Flight 7 launch has been delayed to January 16. Originally set for January 13, the launch will take place at 5:00 p.m. EST (2200 GMT) from the company’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica, Texas. This launch will mark a significant milestone in SpaceX’s efforts to make Starship fully reusable.
Reasons for the Delay
SpaceX announced the postponement due to unfavourable weather conditions. The original launch date fell in the middle of heavy rain and strong winds at Starbase. The team had also encountered issues during a pre-launch rehearsal, a crucial step for testing the spacecraft’s readiness. The exact reason for the delay remains unclear, but weather conditions and technical issues likely played a role.
What to Expect from the Starship Flight 7 Test
Starship Flight 7 will feature several important tests. SpaceX aims to demonstrate the improvements made to both the spacecraft’s upper stage and its Super Heavy booster. One of the key highlights will be Starship’s first attempt to deploy 10 replica Starlink satellites, designed to simulate next-generation satellites. The mission will also test new upgrades to Starship’s propulsion system, avionics, and heat shield.
SpaceX will also attempt another booster recovery using its newly upgraded catch tower. This manoeuvre, known as the “booster catch,” was last successfully performed during Starship’s October test flight. If successful, this will be a significant step towards achieving a fully reusable rocket system, a goal SpaceX has been working towards for years.
The Importance of Starship Flight 7
Starship Flight 7 is the first test flight of 2025, marking a new phase for the spacecraft. SpaceX has made considerable upgrades to the vehicle, including enhancements to the upper stage and heat shield. These improvements will allow Starship to carry out longer missions and improve its overall performance. During the mission, SpaceX will attempt to ignite the Raptor engines in space to execute an orbital burn, a crucial step for bringing the vehicle back to Earth.
The mission will last approximately 66 minutes. The Starship vehicle will travel through a suborbital trajectory before splashdown in the Indian Ocean. This test will help SpaceX gather valuable data for future flights, which will be critical as they aim to make Starship capable of carrying humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
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The Reused Raptor Engine
One of the most exciting features of Starship Flight 7 is the reuse of a Raptor engine from a previous launch. SpaceX will be using one of the 33 engines from the Super Heavy booster that flew in October. This marks the first time SpaceX will reuse a flight-proven engine in Starship’s development, underscoring the company’s commitment to reusability.
Elon Musk’s vision for a fully reusable spacecraft has always been at the heart of SpaceX’s mission. By reusing rockets and boosters, SpaceX can dramatically reduce the cost of space travel. Starship Flight 7’s success will be a major step toward making this vision a reality.
Catching the Super Heavy Booster
Another ambitious goal for SpaceX is the catch of the Super Heavy booster, which will be attempted once again in this flight. The company had to cancel this manoeuvre during its last test in November 2024, but they are hopeful of success this time. The booster will return to the launch site, where the Mechazilla gantry arms will try to catch it in mid-air.
The catch system has been upgraded with new hardware, including protections for the sensors on the mechanical arms, which were damaged during the November test. If successful, this will demonstrate the full potential of the booster recovery system, marking another first for the company.
Watching the Launch
SpaceX will stream the Starship Flight 7 launch live on its website and via the social media platform X. Viewers will be able to tune in about 30 minutes before the scheduled liftoff. The stream will provide live updates on the countdown and the test flight, giving space enthusiasts a front-row seat to the action.
The Starship Launch Timeline
Here’s the updated schedule for the Starship Flight 7 countdown:
| Hour/Minute/Second (SpaceX) | Event (SpaceX) |
| 01:15:00 | Flight Director conducts a poll and verifies GO for propellant load |
| 00:44:59 | Ship LOX (liquid oxygen) load begins |
| 00:42:20 | Ship fuel load (liquid methane) begins |
| 00:41:24 | Booster fuel load begins |
| 00:35:28 | Booster LOX load begins |
| 00:19:40 | Raptor engine chill on booster and ship begins |
| 00:03:20 | Ship propellant load complete |
| 00:02:50 | Booster propellant load complete |
| 00:00:30 | Flight Director verifies GO for launch |
| 00:00:10 | Flame deflector activation |
| 00:00:03 | Raptor ignition sequence begins |
| 00:00:00 | Launch time: Excitement guaranteed |
Flight Test Timeline:
| Hour/Minute/Second | Event |
| 00:00:02 | Liftoff – The rocket takes off from the launch pad, initiating the mission. |
| 00:01:02 | Max Q – The moment of peak aerodynamic stress on the rocket, requiring careful handling to prevent structural damage. |
| 00:02:32 | Super Heavy MECO – Main Engine Cutoff (MECO) as most of the engines on the Super Heavy booster shut down. |
| 00:02:40 | Hot-staging – Starship Raptor engines ignite while still attached to the booster, enabling a smoother transition between stages. |
| 00:02:46 | Super Heavy Boostback Burn Startup – The Super Heavy booster begins its boostback burn to adjust trajectory for landing. |
| 00:03:29 | Super Heavy Boostback Burn Shutdown – The burn concludes, and the booster begins its descent towards Earth. |
| 00:03:31 | Hot-stage Jettison – The upper stage (Starship) is jettisoned, continuing its journey into space. |
| 00:06:26 | Super Heavy is Transonic – The booster approaches transonic speeds, just below the speed of sound, as it begins its descent back to Earth. |
| 00:06:35 | Super Heavy Landing Burn Start – The booster ignites engines for the landing burn, slowing down to prepare for a controlled landing. |
| 00:06:55 | Super Heavy Landing Burn Shutdown and Catch – The booster is safely caught by the Mechazilla arms after a successful landing burn. |
| 00:08:53 | Starship Engine Cutoff – Starship’s engines shut down after reaching the planned trajectory, marking the completion of the ascent phase. |
| 00:17:33 | Payload Deploy Demo – A demonstration of deploying payloads, marking a significant milestone in Starship’s capabilities. |
| 00:37:33 | Raptor In-space Relight Demo – Starship reignites its Raptor engines to demonstrate the ability to perform orbital burns for mission flexibility. |
| 00:47:14 | Starship Entry – Starship begins reentering the Earth’s atmosphere, with intense monitoring to ensure safe passage. |
| 01:03:12 | Starship is Transonic – Starship reaches transonic speeds, entering the densest parts of the atmosphere. |
| 01:04:25 | Starship is Subsonic – The spacecraft slows to subsonic speeds, preparing for a controlled descent. |
| 01:06:13 | Landing Flip – Starship flips into the landing position, orienting itself for a soft landing. |
| 01:06:19 | Landing Burn – The final descent burn is executed, reducing speed for a smooth touchdown. |
| 01:06:39 | An Exciting Landing! – Starship lands safely, completing the seventh test flight successfully and paving the way for future missions. |
This timeline provides a detailed look at the key events during Starship Flight 7, showcasing SpaceX’s ambitious plans for reusability and deep space exploration. The timeline also highlights the dynamic nature of spaceflight, with each second crucial to the mission’s success. SpaceX encourages real-time updates via their social media channels, as delays or adjustments may occur.
Looking Ahead
Starship Flight 7 is just one of many tests that will be required to prepare the spacecraft for its ultimate mission: transporting humans to other planets. If the test is successful, SpaceX will have taken another step towards building the future of space exploration.
As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space technology, the world will be watching closely. The success of Starship Flight 7 could mark the beginning of a new era in space travel, one that may see humanity taking its first steps towards becoming a multi-planetary species.
In the coming months, SpaceX is expected to conduct more tests and launch several more missions, each bringing them closer to their goal of reusable spacecraft.
