Washington – SpaceX is a step closer to the winning regulatory approval of its next Starship test flight, a critical launch after the failure of the previous two.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced the end of May 15 that it had updated its launch license for starship before the next launch of the vehicle. This update incorporated environmental approval earlier this month allowing SpaceX to carry out up to 25 launches per year from its Starbase installations in southern Texas, five times the previous annual limit.
The FAA noted, however, that the license update does not allow SpaceX to carry out its next launch of Starship, known as flight 9. “SpaceX may not be launched until the FAA closes the survey of the flight of Starship Flight 8 or will not make the determination of the theft,” the agency said in a press release. “The FAA examines the report on SpaceX misadventures submitted on May 14.”
In flight 8 in March, Starship underwent what SpaceX called an “energetic event” in the back section of the upper stage of the starship during its ascent, causing the stop of several raptor engines and the vehicle loses control of the attitude. The vehicle returned to the Caribbean.
This was similar to a Flight 7 failure in January. SpaceX said shortly before the launch of flight 8 that the upper stadium had undergone a “harmonic response several times stronger in flight than what had been observed during tests”, stressing the propulsion system and creating propellant leaks that have triggered fires. The FAA accepted these conclusions on March 31.
At that time, neither the FAA nor SpaceX had revealed details on the potential cause of the failure of theft 8. The FAA then declared that the launches of starship would not resume before it is to accept the report of the incidence of flight 8 or would take another determination that the launches can resume in complete safety.
SpaceX goes ahead with the preparations for flight 9, including a long -term static test of the upper stage of the starship on May 13. The company said at the time that it was in “Final preparations” for the launch. Airspace and maritime opinions indicate that a launch could take place on May 22, pending approval from the FAA.
“Just before the Starship flight next week, I will give a conference in a company explaining the March match plan to Starbase, Texas”, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, poster On social networks on May 13, adding that the conference will also be broadcast online.
After the two previous failures of starship, some in the Caribbean requested changes to the trajectory of starship to avoid airspace closings and other disturbances caused by the fall in debris. Propublica reported on May 15 that Stephen Doughty, Minister of the Government of the United Kingdom, head of foreign territories such as Turks and Caicas, in the Caribbean, contacted the US State Department in search of modifications to the starship and timing flight profile to minimize the risks for the islands.
The FAA published on May 15 an environmental assessment for the updated airspace closings for the launch of flight 9. The airplane risk zone, or AHA, is now extending to Bahamas and Turkish and Caics. “The incidents of vehicle Starship of flights 7 and 8 have caused a greater probability of vehicle failure and, therefore, a larger AHA,” said the document.
The document stipulates that more than 175 flights would be affected by the airspace closings, many of which would be delayed by an average of 40 minutes to avoid the danger zone. The launch would also take place “period of outdoor transport”, with takeoff scheduled at 7:30 p.m., the east. In addition, Turks and CAICOS Main Airport, a providial international airport, will close during the launch window.
