SpaceX’s Super Heavy-Starship rocket has successfully obtained clearance for its second test flight, as it aims to propel the Starship upper stage into space for the first time. After a failed maiden flight seven months ago, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has now granted SpaceX the necessary launch license. Since the mishap in April, the rocket has undergone over 1,000 upgrades and improvements, along with 63 FAA-mandated corrections.

Scheduled for 8 a.m. EST on Friday, the liftoff will take place from SpaceX’s Boca Chica flight test facility in Texas. The primary objective of the rocket is to send the Starship on a looping trajectory around the planet before re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere and eventually splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

Boasting an impressive height of 397 feet and weighing over 11 million pounds, the Super Heavy-Starship is undoubtedly the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed. Its first stage consists of an impressive array of 33 Raptor engines, generating a staggering 16 million pounds of thrust. This is double the power of NASA’s Space Launch System moon rocket.

A successful flight would mark a significant milestone for both SpaceX and NASA. NASA plans to use a variant of the Starship upper stage for lunar missions, thus making this test flight all the more crucial. However, achieving reliability for astronaut flights will require multiple test flights, and the timeline for this remains uncertain.

Significant enhancements and reinforcements have been implemented for both the launch pad and the rocket itself. Notable upgrades include a new “hot staging” technique and an advanced electronic steering system. These improvements are expected to contribute to a successful flight.

It is important to note that the Super Heavy first stage will not be recovered. Instead, it will fall into the Gulf of Mexico. On the other hand, the Starship upper stage will continue firing for approximately five minutes before descending into the Earth’s atmosphere and ultimately impacting the Pacific Ocean.

With this upcoming test flight, SpaceX aims to demonstrate the capabilities of its Super Heavy-Starship rocket. The successful execution of this mission would bring the world one step closer to a future where commercial space travel is a reality.