SpaceX is pushing forward with plans for the fifth test flight of Starship, aiming for a launch as early as October 13, 2024. However, that date is likely to get pushed back as the company is still waiting to receive a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA had previously indicated that the license approval process could take until late November. However, a new report from Reuters suggests the possibility of an earlier-than-expected approval, with an unnamed source indicating the approval could come later this month.
Starship’s fifth flight test is preparing to launch as soon as October 13, pending regulatory approval → https://t.co/hibmw2lVv1 pic.twitter.com/Suw1kKLHiE
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 7, 2024
SpaceX has been vocal about its dissatisfaction with the regulatory delays, with Elon Musk even hinting at the prospect of legal action against the FAA for what he has characterized as unnecessary holdups in the review process.
Starship, which stands nearly 400 feet tall when combined with its Super Heavy booster, is the most powerful rocket in the world. This upcoming test flight will feature a crucial new milestone, the first-ever attempt to return the booster to the launch pad, where it will be caught mid-air by massive “chopstick” arms attached to the launch tower, something that has never been tried before.
If the catch fails, the booster will instead execute a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, as a backup plan.
The FAA’s delay in granting approval stems from safety and environmental concerns, particularly regarding the impact of the rocket’s sonic boom and the potential environmental effects of a disposable section of the booster, called the hot-staging ring.
SpaceX, for its part, has pushed back against the FAA’s environmental analysis, claiming that it has always operated within its permits and that the Environmental Protection Agency has agreed that no additional changes are necessary.
Despite these delays, SpaceX has continued its preparations, and is ready for a launch and test flight as soon as this Sunday at its Starbase facility in South Texas.
