A live webcast of the test will begin approximately 35 minutes before liftoff and can be viewed on SpaceX's social media platform on X or through the new X TV app. However, as with any developmental test, timing is subject to change based on conditions, so viewers are advised to monitor SpaceX's X account for any updates.

This latest test follows the success of Starship's fourth flight, where the booster achieved a soft landing in the Gulf of Mexico, and Starship performed a smooth reentry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean. For this fifth test, SpaceX is raising the stakes by attempting the first-ever recovery of the Super Heavy booster back at the launch site, in addition to another planned Starship reentry and targeted landing in the Indian Ocean.

Extensive upgrades have been implemented to both the Starship and Super Heavy booster systems ahead of this flight. SpaceX engineers have spent years preparing for this booster recovery attempt, with tens of thousands of hours dedicated to refining the launch infrastructure at Starbase. The team has worked hard to ensure that both the booster and the tower are ready for this critical test, which will only proceed if all systems check out and weather conditions are favorable.

The booster's return will require precise coordination, with thousands of vehicle and ground system checks being met. If conditions aren't right, the booster will instead default to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, similar to the previous flight. Should the return proceed, the booster will decelerate from supersonic speeds, producing audible sonic booms around the landing zone. While the sonic booms may be loud, they are expected to pose no threat to the public other than the noise itself.

Meanwhile, Starship's reentry will closely mirror that of the fourth flight, with a splashdown once again targeted in the Indian Ocean. Key upgrades to the vehicle include a complete overhaul of its heatshield, with more than 12,000 hours invested in replacing thermal protection tiles and adding additional layers to safeguard the structure during reentry. These enhancements, along with updates to operational procedures and reentry software, are designed to ensure a more controlled and precise splashdown.

With each flight test, SpaceX continues to refine and improve its systems, moving one step closer to making Starship's rapid reusability a reality. "By continuing to push our hardware in a flight environment, and doing so as safely and frequently as possible, we'll rapidly bring Starship online and revolutionize humanity's ability to access space," SpaceX stated. Each of these tests provides critical data that will ultimately lead to a fully reusable system, which SpaceX believes will revolutionize space travel and lower the costs of reaching orbit.

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