**SpaceX Starship Flight 9: What You Need to Know and How to Watch**

Space enthusiasts who can't witness SpaceX's Starship in person still have a chance to bring a piece of space history home by acquiring a detailed scale model. The model stands 13.77 inches (35 cm) tall, representing a 1:375 ratio of SpaceX's iconic Starship. Made from alloy steel, this replica weighs only 225g, making it a lightweight yet high-quality addition to any desk.

The upcoming SpaceX Starship Flight 9 is set to create significant buzz. The mission will feature the reutilization of the Super Heavy booster, previously employed for the launch of Flight 7 in January. Remarkably, only four out of the 33 Raptor engines have been replaced for this new mission, underscoring SpaceX's commitment to reusability and cost efficiency.

When fully assembled, the Starship stands about 400 feet (122 meters), positioning it as the world’s largest and most powerful rocket. Designed for full reusability, the Starship aims to revolutionize space travel by enabling missions to low Earth orbit, the moon, and eventually Mars. Notably, NASA has selected Starship for its Artemis mission to land astronauts on the moon in 2027.

If you're keen to watch SpaceX's Starship Flight 9 launch, the live webcast will be available for free on May 27 at 7 p.m. EST (2300 GMT). You can find the livestream on SpaceX's Flight 9 mission page, the @SpaceX X account, and the X TV app. Additionally, Space.com will provide a simulcast of the webcast on their homepage and YouTube. For a more immersive experience, NASASpaceflight.com will offer its own livestream on YouTube, featuring a detailed prelaunch show with fueling views and other insights.

For those looking to observe the launch in person, South Texas offers several prime viewing spots. South Padre Island's Cameron County Amphitheater in Isla Blanca Park and the nearby shoreline of Port Isabel are excellent options. However, plan accordingly as traffic can become heavy.

The Starship Flight 9 mission is expected to last just over an hour. It aims to replicate the path of Starship Flight 8, with hopes of avoiding the previous mission's failure. SpaceX plans to attempt a variety of in-space objectives, including deploying eight Starlink simulators, which resemble next-generation Starlink satellites. Additionally, a single Raptor engine relight is planned during the mission.

Unlike previous missions, the Super Heavy booster will not return to its launch site. Instead, it will attempt a soft landing in the Gulf of Mexico and be discarded. This is due to the fact that it is SpaceX's first attempt at reusing such a massive rocket, marking another step forward in their pursuit of sustainable space travel.