"SpaceX's Starship: Test Flight Updates and Unusual Discoveries"

SpaceX's Gwynne Shotwell announced at the Satellite 2024 Conference that the fourth test flight of the Starship rocket could occur in as little as six weeks, with Elon Musk adding that it's possible "if everything goes right." The company aims to recover both Super Heavy and Starship by the end of the year, but first needs to successfully splash down Super Heavy and demonstrate control of Starship in space. Despite challenges faced during the third Integrated Flight Test, SpaceX is known for rapid iteration and is likely working on fixes. The FAA is considering adjusting the licensing process, which could enable SpaceX to achieve its goal of 6 to 9 Starship launches by year-end.