The Federal Aviation Administration approved a license on Saturday for SpaceX’s Starship 5 launch on Sunday after previously saying it expected to give a decision until the end of November.
Reuters first reported this week the faster-than-expected timetable after the FAA in September proposed a much longer review.
SpaceX is targeting a Sunday launch and said the 30-minute launch window will open at 7:00 a.m. CT.
The FAA said Saturday SpaceX had “met all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements for suborbital test flight” for Starship’s fifth test and also approved the filing. Starship 6 mission.
The Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket is a fully reusable system designed to carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon and beyond.
The fifth Starship/Super Heavy test flight from Boca Chica, Texas, included a return to the Super Heavy launch site to catch up with the launch tower and water landing of the Starship vehicle in the Indian Ocean western Australia.
The FAA said that if SpaceX chooses an uncontrolled entry, “it must communicate that decision to the FAA prior to launch; the loss of the Starship vehicle will be considered a planned event and no correction will be required.” risk investigation.”
On Friday, the FAA approved the SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle to return to flight after the agency reviewed and accepted the results of the SpaceX-led investigation and corrective actions into the incident. out on September 28.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been harshly critical of the FAA, including proposing a $633,000 fine against SpaceX over launch issues and delays in licensing approval for Starship 5, the company said. said it has been ready to launch since August. Musk has called for FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker to resign and threatened to sue the agency.
