The Starship rocket may be ready for a March rollout, according to a message from Elon Musk shared on Twitter.
Starship represents a next-generation, super-heavy spacecraft that is fully reusable and operates with two stages that can land tail-first. Its core capability is to deliver up to 100 tons of cargo into orbit while sailing on a unified platform, with the upper stage refueled by specialized tanker vehicles modified for that purpose. Starship is also positioned to transport astronauts to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis program in the latter half of the 2020s.
In recent tests, the vehicle completed several low-altitude hops, culminating in controlled landings. SpaceX leadership has suggested that orbital tests could occur in March, with Musk noting on social media that if the remaining evaluations proceed smoothly, a Starship launch could happen next month. He added that while success is not guaranteed, the potential payoff is high.
If the test campaign proceeds as hoped, the first stage would attempt a waterside recovery in the Gulf of Mexico, while Starship 24 would complete a full Earth orbit before aiming for a landing in the Pacific Ocean. The design anticipates occasional landings on land, recognizing that water recovery carries different risk dynamics, especially if descent velocity exceeds typical expectations.
Earlier reports indicated that Capella Federal has plans to provide all-weather radar imagery of military personnel to the Pentagon for defense planning and situational awareness. This collaboration underscores the broader role of space-based assets in national security and the ongoing evolution of satellite capabilities.