SpaceX is also flying rudimentary catch fittings on Starship to test their thermal performance on reentry. The ship will fly a more demanding trajectory during descent to probe the structural limits of the redesigned flaps at the point of maximum entry dynamic pressure, according to SpaceX.

SpaceX just stacked its Starship megarocket to prepare for the vehicle's seventh test flight, which is scheduled for Jan. 13.

SpaceX is preparing for the seventh flight test of the Starship vehicle on Monday afternoon from Starbase in Boca Chica near Brownsville, Texas.

SpaceX is about to launch its massive Starship rocket for the seventh time. Here's how to watch ...The Latest Tech News, Delivered to Your Inbox

SpaceX rolled the upper stage of its Starship megarocket out to the pad this morning (Jan. 9) ahead of its planned Jan. 13 test flight.