In an exciting development, SpaceX has announced its plans for the fourth-ever test flight of the monumental Starship rocket, set to take place this week. The highly anticipated launch is scheduled for Thursday, June 6, according to Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX.

Musk took to X, SpaceX's online platform, to share the news and express his confidence in the readiness of the 400-foot-tall Starship rocket. The impressive images, also shared by Musk, showcased the rocket on the pad at Starbase, the manufacturing and launch site located in South Texas.

Originally targeted for an earlier date, the Thursday launch is now a one-day delay, with SpaceX yet to provide a reason for the change. The company is aiming for a morning launch, with a potential window opening as early as 8 a.m. EDT. To ensure that enthusiasts don't miss out on the action, SpaceX will be webcasting the event live via X, starting 30 minutes before liftoff.

However, the success of this launch is contingent on SpaceX securing regulatory approval. The company has mentioned that it is in the process of obtaining a Starship launch license modification, which is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Starship has had three test flights so far, with each successive flight surpassing the previous ones in performance. The first flight, conducted in April 2023, encountered issues with the separation of the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage. However, the subsequent launches saw improvements, with the second flight demonstrating successful stage separation and doubling the flight time. The third flight achieved orbital velocity and lasted approximately 50 minutes, ending with the upper stage breaking apart during reentry into Earth's atmosphere.

For the fourth test flight, the trajectory will be similar to that of the third flight. The Super Heavy booster is set to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, while the upper stage will attempt to land in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX's main objectives for this mission are to demonstrate the ability to return and reuse both the Starship and Super Heavy, with a particular focus on executing a landing burn and achieving a controlled entry of the Starship.

As enthusiasts and space enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the upcoming test flight, all eyes are on SpaceX for the successful execution of this critical milestone in the development of the Starship rocket.