Things have been extremely busy at Starbase as preparations are underway for the next Starship launch attempt. But that launch may be sooner than initially expected.
A Local Notice to Mariners was released earlier today from the Coast Guard, advising boaters of rocket launch operations near SpaceX’s launch site. The notice, which advises of a roughly two and a half hour launch window, is valid for 10 days, beginning May 13th. The window would run from 6:30-8:34PM each day.
A navigational hazard warning was also posted for Starship’s Indian Ocean reentry. This warning had slightly different dates, with a window of May 9-22. The mariner’s notice published today suggests that the early days of that launch window are off the table. This notice has since been canceled, but hopefully will be re-published in the coming days to reflect the current dates outlined in the NOTMAR.
Troubles With Ship 35
Ship 35 is slated to fly on Starship’s 9th mission. Late last week, during a static fire, the ship experienced an abnormal engine shutdown. SpaceX has not said publicly what caused the anomaly. The ship was safely detanked and returned to the production site for further adjustments.
What Has to Happen Next?
This published notice suggests that whatever issue SpaceX had during their static fire campaign may not delay a launch by much. The window implies that a launch could be around the corner, but more things need to happen.
The FAA reported in March that the agency has closed their investigation on the flight 7 mishap, with the flight 8 explosion still under review. A launch license for flight 9 still needs to be issued before any launch attempt can be made.
Looking Ahead
SpaceX has reported they intend to launch Starship from Florida as soon as later this year, which makes this mission extremely important for the next steps in the Starship program.
Keep in mind that launch operations are changing daily. For more information on what to keep an eye on, check out FMN’s guide to tracking Starship launches.
If you are planning to travel to witness the next launch, start making your preparations! Launch day may be sooner than we think.
