SpaceX is preparing a rocket launch today that, if it goes ahead, will is expected to put an end to a spate of Qantas flight delays.
A 60-minute launch window will open at SpaceX’s Starbase site in Brownsville, Texas from 4pm local time (9am AEDT), in which the company plans to conduct its seventh test of the Starship rocket.
Here’s how the launch plans have caused headaches for travellers in the southern hemisphere.
How could a SpaceX launch affect Qantas flights?
Qantas says it has been forced to delay several of its flights to South Africa at the last minute due to warnings of falling debris from when the rocket is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
But SpaceX has delayed its launch window multiple times, contributing to Qantas’ string of delays, which can last up to six hours.
SpaceX chose the area above the Southern Indian Ocean as a re-entry point due to its remoteness.
That happens to be directly in Qantas’ flight path between Sydney and Johannesburg.
A changing SpaceX launch schedule has had knock-on effects for Qantas flights. (AAP: Dan Himbrechts)
Ben Holland, the head of Qantas’s Operations Centre, said the company often gets little notice about when the space company is testing.
“While we try to make any changes to our schedule in advance, the timing of recent launches have moved around at late notice, which has meant we’ve had to delay some flights just prior to departure. Our teams notify customers of changes to their flight as soon as we know it will be impacted,” he said.
“Customers generally understand this is outside of airlines’ control and that we can’t fly in the area when the rocket re-entry is taking place.”
So why was the rocket launch delayed?
The launch window for the 122-metre Starship has been delayed multiple times in recent days.
It was last scheduled for January 15 but the company said in a post to X it had to delay the launch due to weather.
Brownsville has recorded a run of wet, windy and foggy weather in the past week.
On Friday, January 10, the company ran a launch rehearsal to simulate most steps of the scheduled launch.
While SpaceX did not give a reason for previous delays, it’s possible one may have been an outcome of findings from the rehearsal.
Is this a one-off?
Mr Holland says Qantas is hoping to work with SpaceX to lower the impact of launches in the future.
“We’re in contact with SpaceX to see if they can refine the areas and time windows for the rocket re-entries to minimise future disruption to our passengers on the route.”
It comes as SpaceX makes plans to increase the annual cap on its Starship launches from five to 25.
The company has requested approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, which is expected to rule on the proposal after a public comment period ends in late January.
Qantas began swapping out 787-9 Dreamliners for A380s on the service last year. (AAP: Darren England)
Just last year, Qantas began to replace the 787-9 Dreamliners it uses for the route with A380s, which would nearly double its passenger capacity on the route.
Aviation Australia quoted Qantas as saying there was “strong demand” among passengers for South Africa services.
What exactly is SpaceX testing?
SpaceX’s Starship rocket has made six test landings in the Indian Ocean in the past.
The company says its seventh launch will test “new generation ship with significant upgrades, attempt Starship’s first payload deployment test, fly multiple re-entry experiments geared towards ship catch and reuse, and launch and return the Super Heavy booster”.
It could be the latest milestone for the Elon Musk-owned company as it develops reusable rockets.
Starship’s debut flight was in April 2023.
