SpaceX fires up Super Heavy booster ahead of Starship's 10th test flight (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
SpaceX is already gearing up for the next flight of its Starship megarocket, just a week and a half after the most recent one left the ground.
The company performed a long-duration "static fire" test with Super Heavy, Starship's huge first-stage booster, at its Starbase site in South Texas on Friday (June 6).
All 33 of Super Heavy's Raptor engines lit up during the trial, SpaceX said in a Friday X post that shared a photo and two short videos of the action.
The test was part of the preparations for Starship's next launch, according to the X post. That flight will be the 10th to date of a fully stacked Starship — a Super Heavy topped with an upper stage known as Starship, or Ship for short.
Starship Flight 9 lifted off from Starbase just last week, on May 27. It was a landmark launch — the first ever that featured a used Super Heavy. That booster first flew on Flight 7 in January; on that mission, it came back to Starbase for a dramatic catch by the launch tower's "chopstick" arms.
There was no such attempt on Flight 9; SpaceX performed a variety of experiments with Super Heavy on May 27 and decided to bring it down for a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico for safety's sake.
The booster didn't quite make it, however, breaking apart about 6.5 minutes after launch, just after beginning its landing burn.
Related stories:
— SpaceX reached space with Starship Flight 9 launch, then lost control of its giant spaceship (video)
— Starship and Super Heavy explained
— Will 2025 be the year of Starship? SpaceX's megarocket is growing up.
Ship didn't stay together on Flight 9, either. The upper stage reached space on a suborbital trajectory but began tumbling about 30 minutes after liftoff.
As a result, the vehicle couldn't come in for a soft splashdown off the coast of Western Australia as planned. SpaceX lost contact with Ship about 46 minutes into flight; its pieces likely now rest on the Indian Ocean seafloor.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is requiring an investigation into what happened on Flight 9. Flight 10 cannot lift off until that inquiry is concluded to the agency's satisfaction.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
35 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Nomad Internet Launches First-Ever Nationwide Free Internet Service for RV Parks
AUSTIN, Texas, June 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nomad Internet, America's leading provider of high-speed internet for rural communities and travelers, has announced the official launch of Nomad RV Free Internet, the first-of-its-kind, completely free Wi-Fi service built specifically for RV parks and their guests across the United States. With the goal to eliminate the digital divide for travelers, Nomad RV Internet is free to deploy, free to maintain, and free to use for both RV park owners and their guests. In a recent LinkedIn post, Jaden Garza (CINO Nomad Internet) said, 'The parks have been waiting for this solution for months. They want to provide seamless internet for their guests without the complexity of individual account setups.' With this unique initiative, Nomad Internet is transforming how connectivity is delivered to the RV lifestyle, empowering travelers with internet access they can count on, wherever the road takes them. A Nationwide Rollout: 4,000 RV Parks by Summer's End Nomad Internet is already in the process of launching this unique service in over 4,000 RV parks nationwide, aiming to cover roughly one-third of all RV parks in the United States by the end of the summer. Jaden said in another LinkedIn post 'Nomad Internet is uniquely positioned to deliver Wi-Fi coverage to nearly 4,000 RV Parks—representing approximately one-third of all RV parks in the United States.' The company plans to expand even further by year's end, with the long-term vision of making Nomad RV Internet a standard amenity in every park. 'Internet is no longer a luxury — it's a necessity,' said Jaden Garza. 'We're proud to offer a service that finally bridges the gap for millions of Americans who live, travel, or vacation in RVs. Our goal is simple: to deliver free, fast, and reliable Wi-Fi in every RV park across the country.' How It Works: The Nomad RV Wi-Fi Station At the core of this service is the new 'Nomad RV Wi-Fi Station,' a self-contained, battery-capable wireless internet unit that requires no existing infrastructure, wiring, or technical setup. Designed to be deployed by just plugging in the Wi-Fi Station, Nomad RV Wi-Fi Station: These stations are fully managed and monitored by Nomad's technical operations team, allowing park staff to focus on hospitality — not troubleshooting routers or fielding guest complaints about connectivity. Why Free? Fixing a Broken System For decades, RV parks have been expected to provide internet service as an amenity — yet the cost and complexity of doing so have created widespread frustration. Outdated infrastructure, poor service, and maintenance headaches have made the internet one of the most complained-about aspects of the RV park experience. Nomad RV Internet flips this model on its head Instead of forcing RV park owners to act as IT managers or invest in costly upgrades every few years, Nomad is offering a fully supported, always up-to-date network—at no cost whatsoever. Parks can easily sign up, plug in the Nomad Wi-Fi Station, and start providing premium-quality internet to every guest without any additional effort. Too many parks have had to choose between expensive tech or no internet at all,' Jaden added. 'We're removing that barrier once and for all.' Trusted by Thousands of Travelers Nomad Internet is already the largest internet provider for RVers and rural customers in the country. Known for its customer-first approach, blazing-fast service, and nationwide coverage, Nomad is trusted by digital nomads, remote workers, families, and retirees who rely on stable internet access wherever they go. Nomad RV Internet takes that commitment to the next level, transforming entire communities of travelers with the power of connection. Look for the Nomad RV Internet Badge When an RV park is powered by Nomad, guests will see the 'Nomad RV Internet' badge—a symbol that means free, fast, and unlimited Wi-Fi is available throughout the park. There are no logins to manage, no complicated network names, and no time limits—just open, reliable internet from America's most trusted rural ISP. Whether travelers are streaming movies under the stars, working remotely, planning their next road trip, or video-calling loved ones, Nomad RV Internet ensures they stay connected—no matter how far they roam. For Park Owners: Join the Movement RV park owners across the country are invited to join the Nomad RV Internet program today. There is no cost, no risk, and no hardware investment. Nomad handles everything, from shipping to setup, support to upgrades, and guests could enjoy best-in-class internet from day one. Installation works by plugging in the station in to power, and in minutes the park immediately become part of a growing national network backed by the most powerful rural wireless spectrum in the U.S. RV park owners can get started by visiting: About Nomad Internet Nomad Internet is America's largest wireless internet provider for rural and traveling customers. With a mission to close the digital divide, Nomad delivers ultra-fast, reliable internet anywhere in the country, from off-grid cabins to cross-country RVs. Every Nomad product is designed to be portable, powerful, and user-friendly, putting the internet in the hands of those who need it most. To learn more about Nomad Internet, visit: Media Contact: Company Name: Nomad Internet Contact Person: Manish Roshan Email: [email protected]A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
SpaceX late-night rocket launch in Florida: What time is liftoff, what to know
A late-night rocket launch from Florida is on the horizon. SpaceX is set to launch a batch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit on June 22 from Cape Canaveral. Rockets here launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast could be visible as far north as Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to as far south as Vero Beach and West Palm Beach. When there's a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, there's an opportunity for unique photos — the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Below is more information about the SpaceX rocket launch in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them from here. Rocket launch tally: Here's a list of all 2025 missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot) For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@ or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@ For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit Tom Cruise and untitled SpaceX project: 'Mission: Impossible' star who lives in Florida may shoot a film in outer space Mission: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a payload of Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit, a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning shows. Launch window: 1:47 a.m. to 6:17 a.m. ET Sunday, June 22, 2025 Launch location: Launch complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida Trajectory: Northeast Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at : You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Network's Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at starting 90 minutes before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type into your browser. Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, some rocket launches from the Space Coast can be visible in Palm Beach County. When there's a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, with a southeast trajectory, there's an opportunity for unique photos. Some examples include United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket launch and SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. From Cape Canaveral, Florida, to West Palm Beach, Florida, it's about 150 miles. What the views look like: Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral spotted in West Palm Beach Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral can often be seen from Palm Beach County, and it can be as easy as walking out of your house and looking north. Try to get away from any obstructions, such as trees, tall buildings, and bright lights. Obviously, cloud cover can also get in the way. If the forecast is for clear skies and you want a better view, some good places to watch the rocket launch from Palm Beach County include: : 14775 U.S. 1, Juno Beach : Downtown West Palm Beach, 620 South Flagler Drive : 300 block of South Ocean Boulevard : If you don't know, this is the island that connects Palm Beach and West Palm Beach on Southern Boulevard (near Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club known as the Winter White House or Southern White House). There's a bridge with a pedestrian walkway over Bingham Island, on Southern Boulevard. : 10 South Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth Beach : 10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach : 400 N. State Road A1A, Boca Raton This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: SpaceX rocket launch in Florida: When to look up in Palm Beach County
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Firefly Aerospace to launch 'Ocula' moon-imaging service as early as 2026
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Firefly Aerospace's lunar ambitions are growing. The Texas-based company, which successfully operated its Blue Ghost lander on the lunar surface earlier this year, announced today (June 18) that it's working on a new moon project: a "lunar imaging service" called Ocula. "Powered by a constellation of Elytra vehicles in lunar orbit, and eventually Mars orbit, Ocula will provide critical data that informs future human and robotic missions and supports national security with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance," Firefly CEO Jason Kim said in an emailed statement. "This service will fill a void for our nation with advanced lunar imaging capabilities and a sustainable commercial business model." Firefly is developing its Elytra vehicle for a variety of uses in Earth orbit and deep space, including the region around the moon. The Ocula project will equip Elytra probes with high-resolution telescopes developed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility in the California Bay Area. These scopes will be able to resolve features as small as 8 inches (20 centimeters) on the lunar surface from an altitude of 31 miles (50 kilometers), according to Firefly. "With ultraviolet and visible spectrum capabilities, the telescopes are designed to support situational awareness of other objects in cislunar space, enable fine-grained lunar surface details and identify concentrations of ilmenite, which indicates the presence of helium-3," Firefly representatives wrote in the emailed statement. (Helium-3, a potential fuel for future nuclear fusion reactors, is thought to be more abundant on the moon than it is on Earth.) Ocula data could also help researchers and planners select landing sites for future robotic or crewed missions, the company added. Firefly aims to license the data to both government and commercial customers. Related Stories: — 'We're on the moon!' Private Blue Ghost moon lander aces historic lunar landing for NASA — Watch sparks fly as Blue Ghost lander drills into the moon (video) — Watch the sun set over the moon in epic video from private Blue Ghost lunar lander If all goes according to plan, Ocula will kick off next year, on the second Blue Ghost lunar landing mission. An Elytra with an LLNL scope will serve as the transfer vehicle for that mission, which will put Blue Ghost down on the moon's far side (and also deliver a European Space Agency probe to lunar orbit). Elytra will serve as a communications relay for Blue Ghost and its payloads for the duration of the lander's roughly two-week-long surface mission. After those duties are done, Elytra will begin its Ocula work, imaging the lunar surface in detail for more than five years. Another scope-equipped Elytra will launch in 2028, on the third Blue Ghost mission. And other spacecraft will follow in the ensuing years, if all goes to plan. "Firefly will expand its constellation of Elytra vehicles in lunar orbit to further enhance the Ocula service and enable faster revisit times for situational awareness, resource detection and mission planning," Firefly wrote in the statement. "Longer term, the service can also be extended to Mars and other planetary bodies."
