SpaceX is just hours away from launching the mighty Starship rocket for the eleventh time.
In preparation for Monday’s launch, the Elon Musk-led spaceflight company shared photos of the upper-stage Ship being lifted atop the first-stage Super Heavy booster at SpaceX’s Starbase site near Boca Chica, Texas.
It also shared a set of images of the Starship fully stacked, with the sun setting at Starbase on Sunday evening.
We also have a photo of “rocket and beach fans alike” spending time on the sand close to the launch site the day before the rocket — the most powerful ever built — blasts off the launchpad.
Similar to the 10th flight that took place in August, the 11th flight will see both the Ship and the booster attempt soft, controlled landings on water.
When fully operational, the Super Heavy will return to the launch site minutes after deploying the upper stage, a feat that SpaceX has already achieved several times. The Ship, too, is designed to return to Earth, as well as land upright at its future destinations, such as the moon or even Mars.
The vehicle’s reusability is key to the rocket’s design, allowing it to be used over and over again, drastically reducing the cost of spaceflight.
SpaceX is also building a launch facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, about 1,000 miles east of Starbase. The first Starship launch from Kennedy is likely to take place next year, though the precise timing depends on the completion of the construction and also the environmental review for launches of such a powerful rocket from the Space Coast.
Monday’s launch of the Starship from Starbase is almost here. SpaceX said on Sunday that the weather for the 11th flight test is looking good, with conditions currently 80% favorable for launch.
If you’re interested in watching a livestream of Monday’s launch, Digital Trends has you covered.
