When is SpaceX going to try to launch Starship on its fourth test flight?

Speaking at the Satellite 2024 Conference, SpaceX’s Gwynne Shotwell said that the Starship rocket’s fourth test flight might occur in as short as six weeks.

SpaceX’s ability to test the launch vehicle would significantly increase if they could flip around the launch pad and complete the test campaign with the upcoming Starship and Super Heavy rockets in that amount of time.

This would cover everything from FAA license requirements—which have proven to be a rather long process—to testing.

Even though the third Integrated Flight Test (IFT-3) achieved a lot of firsts, SpaceX still has a lot to work on.

By the end of the year, the corporation hopes to recover both Super Heavy and Starship, but first they must successfully splash down Super Heavy slightly above the water’s surface and demonstrate their ability to keep Starship under control while it is in orbit.

Ship 25 initiated a spin, as observed during IFT-3, presumably to provide a uniform temperature distribution (unconfirmed).

But Ship 25 couldn’t properly orient itself when it came time for Starship to make its historic atmospheric re-entry. It finally fell and broke apart, with only half of the heatshield facing the plasma accumulation when it entered.

Given SpaceX’s reputation for quick iterations, it’s quite probable that these patches—which could be hardware or software—are either implemented or will be implemented shortly.

The FAA’s consideration of changing the licensing procedure offers some optimism for the licensing community. Speaking at the same Satellite 2024 Conference, as first reported by Payload Space, Kevin Coleman, the FAA’s Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, stated that the agency wants to move away from approving launches one at a time and instead want to approve a variety of launches, which is in line with the original intent when the Part 450 licensing was reworked a few years ago.

SpaceX hopes to launch six or nine Starships by the end of the year, if they can work with the FAA to modify the licensing procedure.