Military Space News
ROCKET SCIENCE
US regulator greenlights Starship's next launch on Friday
US regulator greenlights Starship's next launch on Friday
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Nov 15, 2023
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday authorized SpaceX to carry out its second launch of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, after a first attempt in April ended in a spectacular explosion.

In a statement, the FAA said Elon Musk's company had now "met all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements" following the mishap that marred the first orbital test flight of its next-generation spaceship.

"Targeting Friday, November 17 for Starship's second flight test," SpaceX posted on X shortly after the authorization. A two-hour launch window opens at 7:00 am local time (1300 GMT) from the company's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas.

Space watchers can follow a live webcast on X and SpaceX's website beginning thirty minutes before lift-off.

On April 20, SpaceX blew up the uncrewed rocket four minutes after it blasted off. Starship experienced multiple engine failures, and its first-stage booster did not separate from the spacecraft above it.

The rocket disintegrated into a ball of fire and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, sending a dust cloud over a town several miles (kilometers) away.

The FAA quickly launched an investigation, while conservation groups announced they would sue the regulator for not doing enough to protect the environment given the proximity of a vital habitat for protected species.

"We are concerned that the second launch will once again cause significant environmental harm," Jared Margolis, a lawyer for Center for Biological Diversity, told AFP, adding it was likely the groups would add a new claim to their lawsuit.

Starship, which stands 394 feet (120 meters) tall, produces 16.7 million pounds (74.3 Meganewtons) of thrust, more than double that of the Saturn V rockets used to send Apollo astronauts to the Moon.

Starship is designed to be fully reusable, with both stages meant to return to Earth, thus greatly reducing costs.

SpaceX foresees it as the vehicle that will one day carry cargo and crew to Mars, while NASA has contracted a version of Starship to function as a lander craft for its Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon by the middle of this decade.

Since the first test from Boca Chica, Starship's separation system has been overhauled, Elon Musk said during a conference in early October, adding that testing this new system would be the "riskiest part of the flight."

"I do want to set expectations not too high," the SpaceX CEO said.

The flight plan will be similar to the one in April. After separation, Starship is to continue to an altitude "a scooch below orbit," according to Musk, completing a near-circle of the Earth before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.

Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX Achieves On-Time Launch for Ambitious Transporter-9 Mission
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 11, 2023
In a textbook launch, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket flawlessly lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking yet another successful step in the company's journey to revolutionize space travel. The launch, which occurred precisely within the planned 55-minute window at 10:49 a.m. PT, marks the ninth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission under the banner of Transporter-9. The Transporter-9 mission is particularly noteworthy for its diverse payload o ... read more

ROCKET SCIENCE
US, S. Korea, Japan to share N. Korea missile warning data

Israel announces sale of air defence system to new NATO member Finland

Israel army says intercepted 'missile' from Red Sea region

Northrop Grumman Completes Key Review for Future Pacific Missile Warning Satellites

ROCKET SCIENCE
North Korea tests new solid-fuel engine for intermediate-range missiles

Switzerland enhances air defense with PAC-3 MSE missile acquisition

Czechs to buy 48 air-to-air missiles from Israel

US Navy intercepts 3 missiles fired from Yemen 'potentially' at Israel: Pentagon

ROCKET SCIENCE
US warship shoots down drone launched by Yemen's Huthis

US Reaper shot down off Yemeni coast

Two drone attacks in Iraq target global coalition: official

Drone attack targets US-led anti-jihadist coalition in Iraq

ROCKET SCIENCE
Intelsat Secures Pioneering SATCOM Managed Service Pilot Contract with US Army

Northrop Grumman Finalizes Key Trials for Arctic Communications Satellites

Lockheed Martin Showcases Hybrid 5G-Tactical Network in Multi-Domain Field Test

SDA Awards Northrop Grumman $732 Million Satellite Contract

ROCKET SCIENCE
Germany says EU won't reach ammo target for Ukraine

Israeli artillerymen facing 'harder war' in Gaza

Report: U.S. service members population falls nearly 3% over past year

Biden administration announces new $425 million aid package for Ukraine

ROCKET SCIENCE
At BAE factory, Ukraine war fuels munitions output

Military families using used a food bank type service reach 1 in 8

US sanctions Turkey, China, UAE entities to disrupt Russia war

US charges three more Russians over sanctions evasion

ROCKET SCIENCE
Quick! buy flowers: Biden reminds Xi of wife's birthday

Biden hails 'real progress' as Xi summit ends with garden walk

At Biden's 'noodle diplomacy' eatery, Chinese eye warming US ties

Asian, US defence chiefs to meet in Indonesia

ROCKET SCIENCE
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.