SpaceX’s second Starship and Super Heavy flight test cleared for launch

The second test flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket has now received the green light from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA said in a statement that it “gave license authorization for the second launch of the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy vehicle.” The FAA determined that SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy and financial accountability requirements.

The FAA identified 63 actions that SpaceX needed to implement on the spacecraft and at the launch site before making further attempts.

Damage around has been criticized by environmental activists and local residents near the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, with debris from the explosion reportedly striking at least one vehicle. To relaunch, SpaceX needed to obtain a license amendment from the FAA covering “all applicable safety, environmental, and other regulatory requirements.” SpaceX claims that this second flight “will debut a hot stage separation system and a new electronic thrust vector control (TVC) system for the Super Heavy Raptor engines, in addition to pedestal foundation reinforcements and a deflector of water-cooled steel flame, among others. other improvements.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, shared a video of the fully assembled Starship vehicle on its launch pad on September 5, saying it would be ready for launch after “FAA license approval.” Musk followed September 10saying necessary updates had been made for the FAA to approve further testing of the Starship.

If all goes well (subject to pre-flight checks and typical weather conditions), this craft will fly for 90 minutes after launch before making its own descent into the Pacific Ocean.

Updated November 16 at 2:51 p.m.: The launch of the graded test has been postponed to Saturday November 18.