The Starship Super Heavy launch vehicle is still not cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration for SpaceX to conduct another test flight, the agency stated on Wednesday.
- SOME POINTS
- The Starship Super Heavy rocket from Elon Musk’s SpaceX must remain off the ground, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
- The government agency was looking into the April launch in which SpaceX’s Starship blew up in midair.
- Before launching another Starship test flight, SpaceX must complete 63 corrective actions outlined by the FAA.
The Federal Aviation Administration ruled on Friday that SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, must keep the Starship Super Heavy rocket off the ground until it has completed 63 corrective steps. The FAA’s investigation into the April launch, which resulted in the rocket exploding mid-flight, is now complete.
Elon Musk Statement About spacex
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, stated on Tuesday in a post on X (previously Twitter), which he now controls, that “Starship is ready to launch, awaiting FAA license approval.”
The government stated in a statement sent via email that the final report “cites multiple root causes of the mishap that occurred on April 20, 2023, and 63 corrective actions SpaceX must take to prevent mishap reoccurrence.”
Among the corrective measures are “redesigns of vehicle hardware to prevent leaks and fires, redesign of the launch pad to increase its robustness, incorporation of additional reviews in the design process, additional analysis and testing of safety-critical systems and components including the Autonomous Flight Safety System, and the application of additional change control practices.”
SpaceX must “implement all corrective actions that impact public safety,” as determined by the FAA, and apply for and receive a “license modification from the FAA” that addresses all of its safety and other environmental regulatory requirements before it can resume Starship launches at its facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
A request for comment from SpaceX did not receive a prompt response.
The SpaceX accident inquiry was overseen by the FAA, with NASA and the National Transportation Safety Board acting as authorized observers. Because it contains sensitive material, including details about U.S. export controls, the full report of the investigation into the accident won’t be made public.
During the initial Starship launch, the roughly 400-foot-tall rocket flew for more over three minutes before purposely exploding in midair after losing several engines, seriously damaging the ground’s infrastructure, and failing to reach space.
A crater was formed in the earth as a result of the test flight and explosion, which also damaged delicate habitat that is home to certain rare species of wildlife and threw concrete rubble into neighboring tanks and other machinery. On state park property, it also started a fire that spread to around 4 acres.
After the first Starship test flight, environmental and cultural heritage groups filed a lawsuit against the FAA, claiming the regulator lacked proper environmental oversight before approving SpaceX’s plans to launch from Boca Chica. In that case, SpaceX joined the FAA as a defendant.
Future success of the company’s Starlink satellite broadband service depends on the Starship program. SpaceX’s Starlink, a worldwide network of more than 4,000 satellites, offers internet connectivity to more than 50 countries.
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While the service has made it possible for soldiers to communicate on the battlefield in Ukraine, Musk has also used Starlink to affect the tactics and results of those battles. A recent biography of the CEO claims that he instructed engineers to stop Starlink’s satellite network operations over Crimea in order to prevent an attack on Russian warships by Ukraine.
The agency claimed in a statement sent via email that a final report “cites multiple root causes of the April 20, 2023, mishap and 63 corrective actions SpaceX must take to prevent mishap reoccurrence.”
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