This next flight marks a critical moment for SpaceX as the Elon Musk-led company attempts to get its Starship program back on track.

Starship ignited its Raptor engines Monday morning on a test stand near SpaceX's Starbase launch facility in South Texas. The engine ran for approximately 60 seconds, and SpaceX confirmed the test-firing in a post on X: "Starship completed a long duration six-engine static fire and is undergoing final preparations for the ninth flight test."

Regulators gave SpaceX the green light for another test flight of Starship, the most powerful launch vehicle ever constructed, after mishaps earlier this year rained debris near populated islands.