SpaceX could launch and catch massive Starship this Sunday

SpaceX is preparing to once again launch its 37-storey Starship as soon as Sunday, pending regulatory approval. 

This will be the fifth launch of Starship, and could be a particularly incredible show: SpaceX plans to catch the 21-storey booster at the launch pad shortly after liftoff.

The news comes as a bit of a surprise, as last month the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it did not expect to rule on the proposed launch before late November. However, on Monday, SpaceX posted on X that the flight test could launch as soon as Sunday.

In a statement to NASASpaceflight, a private aerospace news organization, the FAA said it was reviewing new information submitted by SpaceX about the proposed flight. It made no mention of the November timeframe.

On top of that, SpaceX was grounded following the launch of its Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station on Sept. 29, after the second stage missed its deorbit splashdown zone. It was given special approval to launch NASA's Hera mission last Monday. 

NASA is also awaiting the launch of its Europa Clipper mission to a moon of Jupiter's, which was scheduled to launch on Thursday atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. That launch was postponed due to Hurricane Milton, but could also take place as early as Sunday.

This next integrated flight test (IFT5) of Starship has seen a number of changes following its last launch, IFT4, in June.

During IFT4, viewers were treated to an unprecedented view of Starship re-entering the atmosphere, with plasma surrounding the ship. The heat of re-entry was too much for one of the flaps, which are covered in tiles to absorb heat, and it suffered some damage. Despite that, the spacecraft managed to re-enter and successfully "land" in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX has since upgraded its heat shield to a newer generation, along with additional layers that they hope will add better protection. 

But the big show for IFT5 is what's new: After the Super Heavy booster separates from Starship, SpaceX intends to make an attempt to catch it back on the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, using what are referred to as "chopsticks," which can be seen holding Starship before the launch. 

The decision to catch it will be made six minutes and 50 seconds after launch, and a massive sonic boom is expected, upon the booster's re-entry, off the coast. It will be the first time any such attempt has been made using arms, and with such a large booster. 

"The infrastructure to catch the returning booster, rather than having it land like [SpaceX's] Falcon, is new and has never been tried before in aerospace history," said Jordan Bimm, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago and a space historian.

"This will be the moment to watch on this test and will determine whether IFT4 can count as a developmental success."

Bimm says, if this is a success, the next step is likely a Starship launch into a full orbit as, thus far, these its launches have been suborbital, meaning they haven't gone completely go around Earth.