The spacecraft will only be steered by four fins mounted at the front and rear of the rocket.
The move has been compared to a skydiver controlling their descent by adjusting their arms and legs in freefall.
Then, just a few hundred feet from the ground, Starship will flip upright once more and ignite its engines for a steady, powered landing.
Many things will need to go right for SpaceX to pull the stunt off, with Mr Musk warning the odds are not stacked in his favour.
He tweeted last week: “Good Starship SN8 static fire! Aiming for first 15km / ~50k ft altitude flight next week
“Goals are to test three engine ascent, body flaps, transition from main to header tanks and landing flip.”
source: express.co.uk