The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has now given the green light for the second test flight of the SpaceX rocket Starship. The FAA said in a statement that it “has granted license approval for the second launch of the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy vehicle.” The FAA determined that SpaceX meets all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements.”
SpaceX confirmed The test is now scheduled to take place on November 17th, with a two-hour launch window starting at 8 a.m. ET.
The FAA identified 63 measures that SpaceX needed to implement on the spacecraft and at the launch site before further attempts could be made.
Damage in the area has been criticized by environmental activists and residents near the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, with debris from the explosion known to have hit at least one vehicle. To restart, SpaceX had to obtain a license change from the FAA that covers “all safety, environmental and other applicable regulatory requirements.” According to SpaceX, this second flight will “introduce a hot stage separation system and a new electronic thrust vector control (TVC) system for Super Heavy Raptor engines, in addition to pad foundation reinforcements and a water-cooled steel flame deflector, and much more.” Improvements.”
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared a video of the fully assembled spacecraft on its launch pad on September 5th, announcing that it would be ready for launch upon “FAA license approval.” Musk followed up September 10that the necessary updates had been made to allow the FAA to authorize further Starship testing.
If all goes well (subject to usual pre-flight checks and weather conditions), this spacecraft will fly for 90 minutes after launch before making its own vertical descent into the Pacific Ocean.