SpaceX’s Starship rocket could finally take off for its second test flight. The American Federal Aviation Agency will soon give its opinion on the authorization of the flight, and it should be favorable.
Will take off, won’t take off? The first test flight of SpaceX’s Starship ended in its explosion, and since then, teams have been working to prepare the second one as soon as possible. Last August, the rocket successfully passed a test centered on Booster 9, its first stage. Repairs and improvements continue, and SpaceX estimates that it is ready for a second launch in October. It is November 1, 2023, so the deadline has passed. Another technical problem? No, much simpler than that: FAA authorization is missing, the American federal aviation agency. She is the one who gives the green light.
At the end of October precisely, representatives of major private space agencies Blue Origin And SpaceX gathered around a table. With them, policies and members of the Senate Subcommittee on Space and Science. The discussion revolves around a specific subject, time required to obtain launch authorization from the FAA. Too long for agencies. They can go up to 135 days, which significantly slows down their operations. Obviously, businesses have been heard.
Starship’s second test flight could take place in December 2023
Shortly after the meeting, the FAA agreed to provide an opinion promptly. It will authorize (or not) Starship to take off for its second test flight well before the 135 days it has to do so. If all goes well, the permit will be issued this month, and the flight will take place in December. Symbolically, this would be a great victory for SpaceX, assuming that the test is conclusive of course.
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SpaceX would like Starship to make two flights this year, which is unlikely given the very tight deadlines. In 2024, there will be several, without further details. One of the missions should be a resupply in orbit. A Starship will refuel another Starship, directly in space.
Source: Futura