The countdown begins for the launch of the world\u2019s biggest rocket, sitting at 120m tall. <\/p>
Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX is set to launch its Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket system for the first time from the Texas Starbase, USA.<\/p>\n
The spaceflight system is designed to carry crew and cargo to Earth\u2019s orbit, with the aim of carrying astronauts to the Moon and Mars<\/a> \u2013 including use in NASA\u2019s Artemis<\/a> 3 mission to the Moon in 2025.<\/p>\n But today there is no crew and it won\u2019t reach orbit. It instead marks the first fully integrated test flight of the rocket system after successful tests of the capsule and rocket individually.<\/p>\n This flight aims to demonstrate Super Heavy\u2019s \u2018soft-landing\u2019 as it hovers above the ocean just before splashdown. It will also help SpaceX test and improve the system\u2019s design ahead of missions like Artemis 3.<\/p>\n Starship is scheduled to launch today, Monday 17 April<\/strong> at 2pm BST<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a08am CT\/9am ET\/6am PT.<\/strong><\/p>\n The SpaceX livestream will begin 45 mins before the expected launch time. Unlike last week\u2019s JUICE<\/a> launch, which had a one-second window during which the European Space Agency could attempt lift-off, SpaceX have 150 minutes to launch Starship and Super Heavy.<\/p>\n SpaceX could therefore wait to launch any time within the launch window (1pm to 3:30pm BST) depending on weather. The SpaceX Twitter Feed<\/a> will share new timing updates if the launch time changes from the expected lift-off at 2pm BST.<\/p>\n In the US, the launch window is between:<\/p>\n If the launch attempt is not successful today then SpaceX will try again on 18 April and 19 April.<\/p>\n Live coverage will begin at 1:15<\/strong>pm BST<\/strong> and 7:15<\/strong>am CT\/8:15am ET\/5:15am PT<\/strong>. It\u00a0can be watched on the SpaceX YouTube<\/a> channel or on the livestream below.<\/p>\nWhen is it launching?<\/h3>\n
How can I watch it?<\/h3>\n