The Federal Aviation Administration needs to issue a launch license for a second test to be attempted.
The regulator completed its safety review of Starship in October, but the project still needs a sign-off from the US Fish and Wildlife Service for the license to be given.
A new Starship currently stands ready at the launchpad, according to publicity material posted by SpaceX.
Starship, which stands 394 feet (120 meters) tall, produces 16.7 million pounds (74.3 Meganewtons) of thrust, more than double that of the Saturn V rockets used to send Apollo astronauts to the Moon.
Starship is designed to be fully reusable, with both stages meant to return to Earth, thus greatly reducing costs.
Since the first test from Boca Chica, Starship’s separation system has been overhauled, Elon Musk said during a conference in early October, adding that testing this new system would be the “riskiest part of the flight.”
“I do want to set expectations not too high,” the SpaceX CEO said.
The flight plan will be similar to the one in April.
After separation, Starship is to continue to an altitude “a scooch below orbit,” according to Musk, completing a near-circle of the Earth before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.