Official announcement from SpaceX or verified reports from reputable space news outlets

SpaceX's 140-Meter Starship Advances with Major Upgrades Ahead of IFT-7 Test Flight in December 2024

Dec 15, 2024, 08:18 PM

SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket ever built at 120 meters tall and expected to grow to 140 meters, is undergoing significant advancements as it prepares for its seventh test flight, known as IFT-7, in December 2024. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, announced that the next-generation Starship features major design improvements, including being lighter, easier to manufacture, and more resistant to high heating. The new version also includes redesigned forward flaps, larger propellant tanks, and upgraded thermal protection systems. A recent static fire test of the Block 2 Starship marked a milestone for the spacecraft's development, showcasing the latest hardware configuration. SpaceX plans to conduct another ocean landing for the upcoming test flight, with future plans to catch the spacecraft using the launch tower. Starship is central to SpaceX's long-term vision of enabling human colonization of Mars and supporting NASA's lunar missions.