SpaceX complete early Starship Flight 5 launch tests

SpaceX is back in the Starship launch testing zone with its Starship rocket down in Starbase, Texas. The company just did its first fully stacked fueling test with the hardware intended for Flight 5. However, SpaceX is still over two months away from getting FAA approval to launch.

SpaceX fully stacked the Flight 5 Starship rocket on its orbital launch mount over the weekend. This is the first fully stacked Starship South Texas has seen since Flight 4 took off back in June. While we don’t expect Flight 5 to take off any time soon, still needing an FAA launch license, the company can get some early pre-launch tests out of the way.

With a road closure active, SpaceX began tests on the fully stacked ship on Monday. Without the notice of an evacuation to local residents, it was not a full wet dress rehearsal, but it was a propellant test of some kind.

Testing activity picked up around 10 A.M. local time and completed around 1 P.M. with the detanking of the rocket. The test never fully fueled either the booster or upper stage, so the test was likely an early fit check to ensure the propellant system is working as intended.

SpaceX confirmed the test was a success in an X post later that afternoon saying “propellant load test and preflight checkouts complete ahead of Flight 5.”

There is still a lot more to do for SpaceX to say its Starship rocket is truly ready for flight, although they have been fully assembled. Usually, SpaceX performs a full wet dress rehearsal ahead of launch. While it’s close to what took place Monday, a full WDR is a simulated launch, and the rocket will be fully fueled. WDRs usually end shortly before entering the terminal count.

For now, SpaceX has to wait for the FAA to approve its modified launch license. While it received approval for multiple launches for Flight 4, that was under the condition it would fly the same trajectory. Flight 5 will see multiple changes, the biggest being catching the booster over land, which requires more environmental considerations than splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico.

For now, the FAA has estimated it can give approval for Flight 5 no earlier than late November.