**SpaceX Completes Key Fueling Test for Starship Megarocket Ahead of Historic Sixth Flight**

SpaceX has successfully executed a pivotal fueling test for its massive Starship megarocket, paving the way for its sixth test flight. The rocket, stationed at SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas, is set to demonstrate new vital capabilities necessary for future lunar and Martian missions.

Towering at the Starbase facility, the gleaming Starship rocket has been assembled and is ready for Integrated Test Flight-6 (IFT-6). The 30-minute launch window will open at 5 p.m. EST (2200 GMT) on Nov. 19, with SpaceX providing a live stream of the event. This will mark the sixth launch of the Starship and Super Heavy booster combination, and excitement is mounting as SpaceX aims to repeat their daring booster catch using the launch tower's "chopstick" arms.

This impressive feat was first achieved a month ago during IFT-5, garnering significant attention and success. This time, the stakes are higher, as SpaceX plans to introduce a critical in-space maneuver to the mission’s profile.

IFT-6 is designed to push the limits of Starship's operational capabilities. It will follow a similar flight plan to IFT-5 but with an added twist: once in space, one of the Raptor engines on the Starship’s upper stage will reignite. This maneuver is crucial for missions beyond Earth, including those to the moon and Mars. Achieving success in this demonstration is key to SpaceX’s role in NASA's Artemis 3 mission, set to return astronauts to the moon in the latter half of 2026. Delays in Starship development could impact the timeline for Artemis 3, as Artemis 2 is scheduled for late 2025.

On Sunday, SpaceX completed a crucial "wet dress rehearsal," loading super-chilled propellants into the rocket and conducting rigorous preflight checks. The process left the Starship shimmering under the Texan sun, a stark contrast to the surrounding marshes and the Gulf of Mexico. This remote launch site near Texas’ southern tip offers both stunning views and the isolation needed for audacious test flights like this one. Tomorrow's test will further underscore SpaceX's reusable rocket capabilities, central to their goal of affordable space travel.

Key aspects of tomorrow’s launch include the Super Heavy booster recovery, where SpaceX will attempt to catch the 230-foot-tall booster using the tower’s "chopstick" arms during descent. Additionally, the upper stage of Starship will test its in-space maneuverability by reigniting one of its six Raptor engines. Success in these areas is vital for SpaceX's progress, particularly regarding NASA's Artemis program.

With the looming Artemis 3 mission and SpaceX’s expanding ambitions, IFT-6 represents a critical proving ground for the future of interplanetary travel. Billions of dollars and humanity's aspirations for extraterrestrial life are intertwined with this launch. Coverage will begin at 4:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT) on SpaceX’s X account and Space.com’s YouTube channel, VideoFromSpace. Buckle up—IFT-6 could be a launch that changes everything.