Potential Launch Date for SpaceX Starship Flight 7 Revealed in Air Traffic Advisory

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Upcoming Launch of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7

A recent flight advisory has indicated that SpaceX is gearing up for the highly anticipated Starship Flight 7, with a targeted launch date set for January 10th. Additional backup dates have been scheduled from January 11th to 16th. This timeline is consistent with a correspondence from NASA to the FAA, requesting clearance for special test flights in Texas to calibrate instruments designed for monitoring the upcoming launch, originally intended for January 11th.

Importantly, unlike previous missions, SpaceX does not await FAA approval for its license at this stage. Should January 10th be confirmed as the launch date, preparations for stacking the Starship upper stage atop the Super Heavy booster will commence shortly.

Key Details of Starship Flight 7

Scheduled to launch early in the morning (Texas time) on January 10th, the mission will utilize a new upper-stage spacecraft. SpaceX has successfully conducted multiple static fire tests of the 232-foot-tall Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage Starship, including a recent test involving a single engine Raptor vacuum firing aimed at simulating in-space ignition.

This mission also marks another attempt for SpaceX to catch the Super Heavy rocket with the launch tower—a feat accomplished during Flight 5. However, it was abandoned in Flight 6 due to structural damage to the launch tower.

Flight Advisory Insights and Objectives

Despite having secured the necessary launch license from the FAA for this mission, SpaceX has yet to disclose definitive launch timings. The CADENA (CANSO ATFM Data Exchange Network for the Americas) advisory released recently provides the following key launch window details:

“Primary Launch Day 10 Jan 2200Z-2337Z
Backup Launch Day (1) 11 Jan 1300Z-1437Z
Backup Launch Day (2) 12 Jan 2200Z-2337Z
Backup Launch Day (3) 13 Jan 2200Z-2337Z
Backup Launch Day (4) 14 Jan 2200Z-2337Z
Backup Launch Day (5) 15 Jan 2200Z-2337Z
Backup Launch Day (6) 16 Jan 2200Z-2337Z”

The primary launch date of January 10th aligns with NASA’s request for FAA approval to test its imaging instruments within US airspace. Following this, the instruments will be deployed to Australia for assessing the Starship’s upper stage during atmospheric reentry. The enhancements for Starship Flight 7 include testing new heat shield tiles, increased tank capacity, and improved flap designs, among numerous other modifications.

A successful outcome for Flight 7—particularly a soft splashdown of the spacecraft and a successful in-space Raptor engine re-ignition—could pave the way for significant milestones within the Starship program. This includes the possibility of the ship being caught by the tower and preparing for an orbital test flight, pending FAA consent. Looking ahead, 2025 is poised to be a pivotal year for SpaceX, with potential trials of in-space propellant transfer being conducted to support NASA’s Artemis program and the Human Landing System (HLS).

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