WATCH: SpaceX launches 4th flight test of Starship and Super Heavy rocket

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By James Tutten

BOCA CHICA, Texas — SpaceX launched its Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket for its fourth flight test on Thursday.

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The rocket took off just after 8:50 a.m.

Starship is a major part of NASA’s plans to return to the surface of the moon and beyond.

NASA and SpaceX are planning to land a version of Starship on the moon and allow astronauts to return to the surface.

Watch: SpaceX successfully launches 3rd Starship, world’s most powerful rocket

SpaceX said the launch of Starship is set for 8:50 a.m.

SpaceX says the launch schedule is open to change due to the developmental testing of the rocket.

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

SpaceX’s first launch of Starship spacecraft with world’s biggest rocket ends in mid-air explosion

The goal of Starship’s fourth launch is to have the spacecraft achieve orbit and eventually performed a controlled soft landing of the Super Heavy booster in the Gulf of Mexico.

SpaceX will also attempt to have a controlled reentry of Starship with a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

See: SpaceX unveils new spacewalk spacesuits featuring built-in camera, heads-up display

“The fourth flight of Starship will aim to bring us closer to the rapidly reusable future on the horizon. We’re continuing to rapidly develop Starship, putting flight hardware in a flight environment to learn as quickly as possible as we build a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond,” a SpaceX representative said.

Watch: Space Coast officials meet on potential Starship, Super Heavy operations in Florida

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