American entrepreneur Elon Musk is set to launch his massive new rocket, Starship, in its second flight test. The vehicle's maiden flight in April ended abruptly in a fiery explosion just four minutes after liftoff. However, engineers at SpaceX have made "more than a thousand" modifications to the rocket's systems in an effort to improve reliability.

The launch window is scheduled to open at 07:00 local time in Texas. The mission will involve sending the top part of the two-stage vehicle, known as the Ship, almost one full revolution around the Earth. The goal is to have the uncrewed craft make a controlled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.

If successful, Starship could revolutionize space travel by becoming a fully reusable rocket capable of carrying over a hundred tonnes into orbit in a single launch. This would significantly lower the cost of space activities and support Musk's vision of establishing a human settlement on Mars.

The first flight test in April revealed significant challenges, with engine failures, loss of control, and an explosive ending. However, SpaceX follows the mantra of "test early, break it, and learn," and the engineers have used these lessons to make extensive modifications to Starship's design. The upcoming test will determine if these changes have improved the rocket's performance and durability.

SpaceX's second attempt at launching the Starship rocket is poised to provide crucial insights into the viability of Musk's ambitious space exploration plans.