SpaceX’s Starship sits on the pad in Boca Chica, Texas awaiting regulatory hurdles for it’s second orbital test flight. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN www.rpgphotography.com
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given its nod of approval regarding the safety of SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy rocket. This decision comes months after the initial orbital launch attempt in April resulted in an explosion over the Gulf of Mexico.
The April 20 launch, conducted at SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility in Texas—also known as Starbase—produced over 15 million pounds of thrust and revealed significant engineering and environmental issues. The launch pad was severely damaged, and the second stage Starship was unable to separate from the Super Heavy booster. Attempts to terminate the flight were not immediately successful.
The FAA labeled the launch as a “mishap” and grounded the vehicle for a SpaceX-led investigation. The FAA’s final review took place in August and officially closed the incident in September. A total of 63 corrective actions were listed for SpaceX to prevent any future mishaps.
This week, the FAA announced that it had completed the safety review portion for SpaceX’s next launch license. “A safety review is focused on issues that affect public health and safety of property,” stated the FAA in a press release. The review encompassed an evaluation of safety organization, system safety processes, flight safety analysis, and quantitative risk criteria for launch, reentry, and vehicle disposal.
However, the green light for future launches is still contingent on the FAA’s pending environmental review. This involves collaborating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for an updated assessment under the Endangered Species Act.
In the interim, SpaceX is making strides with its next prototype, Starship at Starbase, having conducted a wet dress rehearsal last week. That test saw the loading of the combined spacecraft with more than 10 million pounds of fuel. The company posted that the “Vehicle is ready for the second test flight of a fully integrated Starship, pending regulatory approval.”
Once cleared for launch, the Starship could become the most potent rocket ever to reach orbit, outperforming NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS). Last fall, the SLS generated 8.8 million pounds of thrust on its Artemis I mission to the moon.
The Starship is a vital component for NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions, including Artemis III, slated for December 2025. NASA plans to use Starship for the human landing aspect of these missions, marking the first lunar landings since the Apollo program ended in 1972.
SpaceX has ambitious plans for the Starship, including dozens of operational launches before any human spaceflight occurs.
Completing a pending environmental review by the US Fish and Wildlife Service remains the final hurdle before SpaceX can proceed with its next orbital launch. Many launch observers are optimistic that the environmental review will be completed very soon. But hey, it’s the government….who really knows?
