---
title: "SpaceX “Starhopper” Will Attempt Longest Flight Yet This Weekend"
description: "SpaceX has scheduled the next test flight of its Starship prototype Starhopper — possibly up to an altitude of 650 feet — for this weekend."
date: "2019-08-14"
modified: "2019-08-14"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-starhopper-flight-weekend"
categories:
  - "Space"
  - "SpaceX"
tags:
  - "elon musk"
  - "SpaceX"
  - "starhopper"
  - "Starship"
  - "the digest"
---

# SpaceX “Starhopper” Will Attempt Longest Flight Yet This Weekend

![SpaceX has scheduled the next test flight of its Starship prototype Starhopper — possibly up to an altitude of 650 feet — for this weekend.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/spacex-starhopper-will-attempt-longest-flight-yet-this-weekend.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: SpaceX\</em\>*

## One Big Leap

SpaceX has scheduled the next test flight of its Starship prototype Starhopper [for this weekend](<https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1161330027809640450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>), according to *SpaceNews* senior writer Jeff Foust. Acording to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the test craft will attempt to reach an altitude of [650 feet](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1154604015822311424?lang=en>).

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a [flight restrictions notice](<https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_9_9032.html>) for the area starting on Friday and ending Monday morning.

"Just spoke with FAA, so hopefully yes," [Musk responded](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1159969069740597248>) on Friday when asked on Twitter whether the craft would fly this weekend.

A single Raptor engine will propel the scaled-down Starship prototype at SpaceX's Boca Chica test site in Texas.

## Rocky Road

The news comes after Starhopper completed its first untethered test flight [on July 25](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-first-untethered-starhopper-flight-successful>). But testing hasn't always gone smoothly. SpaceX had to abort Starhopper's first flight test due to a [giant fireball](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-aborts-starhopper-flight-test-fire>) engulfing the craft during a static fire test.

If all goes well, Starship could one day haul 100 tons of cargo or up to 100 passengers to faraway destinations including the Moon and Mars.

But Starhopper features just one out of the six Raptor engines that'll eventually propel it into space. In June, representatives for the space company suggested that the first commercial mission for Starship could take place [as soon as 2021](<https://www.space.com/spacex-targets-2021-commercial-starship-launch.html>).

**READ MORE:**[ SpaceX settles on Friday for Starhopper’s next flight test milestone, FAA permitting](<https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starhopper-next-flight-milestone-faa-permitting/>) \[*Teslarati*\]

**More on Starhopper:** *[SpaceX Just Flew Its Starship Prototype Without a Tether](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-first-untethered-starhopper-flight-successful>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)