CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. SpaceX is set to make a second attempt at launching its mega rocket, Starship, after the initial test in April ended in an explosion. Federal regulators have granted final approval for the upcoming test flight scheduled for Friday, according to an announcement from SpaceX.
The first launch of the 400-foot (121-meter) Starship resulted in a dramatic explosion minutes after liftoff from South Texas. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the necessary license on Wednesday, acknowledging that SpaceX has addressed safety, environmental, and other requirements for the launch. SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, aims to carry out the test flight on Friday morning.
Following the explosion over the Gulf of Mexico, SpaceX undertook numerous improvements to both the Starship rocket and the launch pad. The blast left a substantial crater beneath the pad. Despite the setback, SpaceX holds a significant NASA contract, amounting to $3 billion, to transport astronauts to the lunar surface by 2025 using the Starship spacecraft.
The FAA recently completed its safety review of the upcoming Starship launch, but the environmental review required additional time. The first attempt did not result in any injuries, but the launch pad sustained extensive damage as the rocket’s 33 main engines ignited during liftoff.
Reports from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service highlighted the far-reaching environmental impact of the explosion, with concrete chunks and steel sheets hurled thousands of feet from the pad. Environmental and wildlife groups filed a lawsuit against the FAA, arguing that the agency failed to fully assess the environmental consequences of the Starship program near Boca Chica Beach.
The upcoming test flight is anticipated to last approximately 1 1/2 hours, falling short of a full orbit around Earth. The trajectory will take the spacecraft eastward, passing over the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans before intentionally ditching near Hawaii. The spacecraft will not carry any valuable cargo during this test.
As SpaceX prepares for this crucial test, the outcome will be closely watched, considering the company’s ambitious plans and the concerns raised by environmental groups regarding the potential impact of future launches on the surrounding ecosystem.
Note: The news report provides a comprehensive overview of SpaceX’s upcoming Starship test flight, emphasizing regulatory approvals, past challenges, and environmental considerations.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
