SpaceX announced on Friday that it is preparing to conduct the seventh flight test of its massive Starship rocket, marking a significant step in the program's development.

The upcoming test will feature a next-generation Starship with major upgrades. It will include the first-ever payload deployment test, multiple reentry experiments focused on recovery and reuse, and a launch-and-return trial for the Super Heavy booster.

According to SpaceX, the flight will introduce a series of upgrades to the Starship’s upper stage, enhancing its reliability and performance. These upgrades include a redesigned propulsion system with a 25% increase in propellant capacity, vacuum-jacketed feedlines, a new fuel feedline system for the Raptor vacuum engines, and an improved propulsion avionics module for better valve control and sensor monitoring.

During the mission, Starship will deploy 10 Starlink simulator satellites while in orbit, testing its payload deployment capabilities.

The Starship system, comprising the spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster, is fully reusable and designed to transport both crew and cargo to destinations including Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Starship also plays a critical role in NASA’s Artemis program. It was selected as the vehicle to carry astronauts to the lunar surface during the Artemis III mission, currently scheduled for 2026.