SpaceX plans next Starship launch as soon as this month, catching it on land

SpaceX plans to launch its next Starship flight test as soon as this month, according to CEO Elon Musk. This upcoming mission will mark a significant advancement in the reusable rocket's development, as it will be the first time the upper stage is expected to return to land after delivering a batch of Starlink satellites into orbit.

Musk stated that the exact timing of the next launch and the decision to attempt a land recovery hinge on receiving regulatory approval. If successful, the land-returns of the upper rocket stage would be crucial for SpaceX's goal of building the world's first fully reusable orbital launch system, which it aims to utilize for expanding its Starlink broadband network.

NASA is also closely watching the landing test, as the rocket may eventually be used to land astronauts on the Moon. SpaceX is currently in the process of recovering the 13th test's rocket stage from the ocean for inspection. Musk expects the Starship launch frequency to increase rapidly, potentially to at least one launch per day.

The 14th Starship flight test will carry the first batch of V3 Starlink satellites, which are expected to deliver 10 times more broadband capacity and data density compared to previous generations.