SpaceX is set to make another try at launching its Starship rocket on Thursday

SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, is set to make another attempt at launching its Starship rocket on Thursday, April 21st. The launch will take place at SpaceX's facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

This will be the fourth test flight of the Starship rocket, which is designed to carry humans and cargo to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The previous three attempts ended in explosive crashes during the landing phase.

Despite the setbacks, SpaceX is committed to developing the Starship rocket and has been rapidly iterating on the design. The company has made several modifications to the rocket's structure and propulsion systems to make it more resilient and reliable.

The upcoming test flight, known as SN15, will feature several improvements over previous iterations of the Starship rocket. These include upgraded avionics, improved engines, and a reinforced heat shield.

If successful, the SN15 launch will be a major milestone for SpaceX and its ambitious plans for space exploration. The company has already secured contracts with NASA to use the Starship rocket to transport astronauts to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis program.

In addition to its work with NASA, SpaceX also has plans to launch commercial missions to space using the Starship rocket. The company recently announced that it had signed a contract with Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to fly him and a group of artists around the Moon in 2023.

As with all rocket launches, there is always the possibility of unexpected issues or delays. However, if all goes according to plan, the SN15 launch will be a significant step forward for SpaceX and the future of space exploration.

Here are some more details about the upcoming Starship launch:

The SN15 Starship rocket stands 50 meters tall and is equipped with three Raptor engines. It is designed to carry up to 100 people and 100 metric tons of cargo to destinations like the Moon and Mars. The previous three Starship test flights, known as SN8, SN9, and SN10, all ended in explosions during the landing phase. Despite the setbacks, SpaceX has continued to improve the rocket's design and is confident that the SN15 will perform better. One of the key improvements made to the SN15 is its upgraded avionics. The rocket's flight computer has been completely redesigned to improve its performance and reliability. Another major upgrade is the rocket's engines. The SN15 features the latest version of SpaceX's Raptor engine, which has undergone extensive testing and development since the previous Starship test flights.

 The SN15 also has a reinforced heat shield, which is designed to protect the rocket during its descent through Earth's atmosphere. This was a key area of concern in the previous test flights, as the rockets experienced significant heating during the descent phase. Assuming the launch goes ahead as planned, the SN15 will take off from SpaceX's launch site in Boca Chica, Texas, and ascend to an altitude of approximately 10 kilometers. It will then perform a series of maneuvers, including a "belly flop" maneuver where it reorients itself for landing. The rocket will then attempt to make a soft landing on the landing pad, which is located a few hundred meters away from the launch site.

 If successful, this will be the first time a Starship rocket has made a successful landing. Overall, the SN15 launch represents a major milestone for SpaceX and the development of the Starship rocket. The company has ambitious plans for the rocket, including sending humans to Mars in the near future. A successful launch and landing of the SN15 will bring SpaceX one step closer to realizing this goal.