The US space agency plans to use the mammoth Starship -- the world's largest and most powerful rocket -- in its efforts to return astronauts to the Moon. It is also key to Musk's zealous vision to take humans to Mars.

And while its last test mission in August was chalked up as a success, that followed a series of spectacular explosions that raised concerns Starship might not live up to its promises -- at least not on the timeline lawmakers and the scientific community had hoped for.

The US space agency's Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon as China forges ahead with a rival effort that's targeting 2030 at the latest for its first crewed mission.

US President Donald Trump's second term in the White House has seen the administration pile pressure on NASA to accelerate its progress -- efforts Starship is key to.

Musk's company has a multibillion-dollar federal contract to develop a modified version of Starship as a lunar lander.

The manned Artemis III mission is intended for mid-2027 -- but a NASA safety advisory panel has warned it could be "years late," according to Space Policy Online.

And former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine told a Senate panel recently that "unless something changes, it is highly unlikely the United States will beat China's projected timeline."

- 'Second space race' -

NASA's acting administrator Sean Duffy has insisted the US will still win the "second space race," telling reporters last month that "America has led in space in the past, and we are going to continue to lead in space in the future," while dismissing the notion that China could get there first.

Starship's 11th test flight window is slated to open at 6:15 pm local time (2315 GMT) from the company's launch facilities in southern Texas.

Previous tests of the enormous rocket have resulted in explosions of the upper stage, including twice over the Caribbean and once after reaching space. In June, the upper stage blew up during a ground test.

But during August's successful flight, SpaceX for the first time managed to deploy eight dummy Starlink internet satellites, with onboard cameras beaming back live views of a robotic mechanism pushing each out one by one.

Musk has identified developing a fully reusable orbital heat shield as the toughest task, noting it took nine months to refurbish the Space Shuttle's heat shield between flights.

Another hurdle is proving Starship can be refueled in orbit with super-cooled propellant -- an essential but untested step for the vehicle to carry out deep-space missions.

NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel has emphasized "threats" related to ensuring that vital transfer can be carried out, with member Paul Hill saying the timeline is "significantly challenged."