The FAA says that SpaceX could get license for second Starship orbital launch attempt in October.
The SpaceX Super Heavy Starship is stacked and ready to go on the launch pad. SpaceX needs to secure the necessary regulatory approvals, including a launch license from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“We’re working well with them and have been in good discussions. Teams are working together and I think we’re optimistic [about issuing a license] sometime next month,” the FAA’s acting administrator, Polly Trottenberg, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on Wednesday.
Last Friday, the FAA wrapped up its investigation of Starship’s first orbital launch and flight which occurred on April 20.
The last SpaceX launch attempt caused the superhard concrete to break. The rocket has twice the thrust of a Saturn V, which caused dirt and concrete to be thrown hundreds of meters.
27 seconds into the flight a kinetic event (NBF- probably concrete debris hit three of the engines) damaged three of the engines.
SpaceX will takeoff faster next time. SpaceX chose a slower takeoff in the first launch. Faster takeoff and the steel plate will prevent the rock tornado next time.
SpaceX has built a large steel plate launch pad system that also will use a water deluge to protect against the rocket thrust. The water spray will be a like massive shower pushing water upwards. The water pressure will exceed the rocket pressure so that it will protect the steel plate.
SpaceX had a static fire of 29 out of 33 Raptor 2 engines and the test also used the water deluge launch pad protection system.
The water protected steel plate and launch pad were undamaged after the 29 engine static fire
Drone view of Booster 9 static fire test pic.twitter.com/ARv6H6njgu
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 6, 2023
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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Time the bezos boys (FAA) were given a swift prod in the batteries this has been nothing but delaying tactics from the get go . There are people that are affraid of Musk / SpaceX of course the other side of it is Biden behind this being told by his Chinese Controllers to slow SpaceX down to give them chance to get a clone launched first.
“being told by his Chinese Controllers to slow SpaceX down to give them chance to get a clone launched first.”
utter nonsense
Brian,
If possible, please create an article about this topic:
https://youtu.be/mlx4K_GDqng
It could have a big impact on OFT2.
Oh, great.
I think a lot of the Problem Solvers Caucus—of the No Labels movement.
They are flapping in the wind—but space solar power could be the base of their platform as they are neither Technofeudalists nor Malthusian Misrablists.
Contact them, and talk about how Starship will aid Green power…and how LV facilities in limiting tourism flow helps keep things clean.
They would be a good counterweight against the Bezos-bought and/or eco-nuts that just want us in caves again.
All that John Kerry wing is interested in is using tax dollars to travel the world telling Brown People they can’t have electricity.
Space Solar Power is a fresh start.
But Starship HAS to launch.
—-publiusr
The only reason falcon rockets got so good was rapid test and fail. Much like how starship started but it’s now grinding to a halt. 2 flights in a year we’ll all be dead before anything gets close to launching for the moon let alone mars.
Some things need to be changed after explosion. But not tons of it. FAA should be more reasonable in its requirements. Who knows, perhaps somebody is paid by competition to slow down SpaceX with extra requirements.