On May 12th, according to reports, Musk shared a photo of the SpaceX Starship on social media platform X, captioned "Preparing for space flight," with a launch expected in early June.
When curious netizens inquired about the timing of SpaceX's fourth Starship test flight, Musk quickly responded, stating, "Expected in the next 3 to 5 weeks. Our goal is to ensure the Starship can withstand extreme temperatures, or at least fly farther than the last time."
However, the smooth progress of the test flight not only relies on SpaceX's technological readiness and preparation progress. It also needs to overcome regulatory obstacles, especially obtaining a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This step is crucial to ensuring the safety and compliance of the test flight.
Despite the setbacks in the previous test flight, Musk remains optimistic. He firmly believes that with the collective efforts of technology and the team, the next Starship test flight will be successful. This resilience and determination are what drive SpaceX forward continuously.
This year, SpaceX plans to conduct at least 6 Starship test flights. This frequent testing program aims to achieve the best state of this fully reusable launch vehicle through continuous iteration and optimization. This is not only to prepare for future commercial operations but also to realize the grand vision of human exploration of the stars and seas.
Musk has boldly predicted that the first unmanned Starship will land on Mars within five years. In the following seven years, we may witness the magnificent moment of the first group of humans setting foot on Mars. This vision is inspiring and demonstrates Musk's firm belief and boundless aspirations for space exploration.
Musk holds high hopes for the future of Mars. He predicts that Mars achieving self-sufficiency may take 20 years. If humans can successfully become a multi-planetary or even multi-stellar species, our civilization could last for millions of years.
