Latest news with #SpaceXStarshipFlight8
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
FAA OK's SpaceX to launch Starship again after last flight's destruction
SpaceX's last two efforts to make progress on its Starship and Super Heavy rocket ended with streaks of debris hurtling across the sky. The Federal Aviation Administration, though, is now satisfied it's safe for SpaceX to try again. The FAA on Thursday announced the in-development rocket that launches from Starbase, SpaceX's Texas site, can return to flight. The decision comes after closing the investigation into a March 7 test flight that resulted in the destruction of the rocket's upper stage that could be seen across the East Coast and into the Caribbean. It's a near mirror result of a January attempt, with both explosive ends seen in videos captured from the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos and Florida. 'The FAA conducted a comprehensive safety review of the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 mishap and determined that the company has satisfactorily addressed the causes of the mishap, and therefore, the Starship vehicle can return to flight,' the FAA stated in a press release. 'The FAA will verify SpaceX implements all corrective actions.' The ninth test flight could come as early as next week. Starship is the replacement hardware for the company's existing Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets that launch from Florida and California. For now, SpaceX has only used its Texas site for Starship test launches amid a massive $1.8 billion construction frenzy on the Space Coast to support two more Starship launch sites. Starship is SpaceX founder Elon Musk's answer on how to build out a human colony on Mars. But even with the rocket's increase payload capacity it will take thousands of rockets launching per year, he said, to make that dream possible. Unlike Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, Starship is created to be fully reusable — with the Super Heavy booster returning to the launch site where it's designed to be captured by the launch tower's 'chopsticks' that grab the it in midair. The upper stage would also have the ability to make a safe, vertical landing at its destination. For now, Starship has made eight suborbital launch attempts and managed three successful captures of the Super Heavy booster. The upper stage in 2024 made some promising trips more than halfway around the world with splashdown landings in the Indian Ocean off the western coast of Australia. But both 2025 launch attempts had the upper stage disintegrating in fiery displays soon after liftoff. The FAA took more than two months to clear SpaceX's next attempt. 'The FAA's determination of when a vehicle involved in a mishap can resume operations is based on public safety,' the agency stated. 'When making this determination, the FAA considers several factors, including but not limited to, the nature of the mishap, the performance of vehicles safety-critical systems, and the generation of unplanned debris. 'Prior to making a return to flight determination, the FAA must find that any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety or any other aspect of the operator's license.' The clearance to fly means SpaceX has met 'all of the rigorous safety, environmental and other licensing requirements,' the agency stated. For Starship Flight 9, the FAA has collaborated with the United Kingdom, Turks & Caicos Islands, Bahamas, Mexico and Cuba, since all had an up-close view of the last two flights' destruction. Two environmental assessments have been issued since the last flight, including one that expands SpaceX's upper flight limit from Starbase per year to 25 missions. The other updates airspace closures during launch windows. The FAA said both assessments found no significant safety or environmental impacts. SpaceX still has to update a flight safety analysis 'to account for all outcomes of previously flown flights including mishap events and to calculate and establish hazards areas,' the agency stated. That analysis must include population exposure risk, probability of failure for the spacecraft, what type of debris may be created and where it might end up. That said, for Flight 9 the FAA has already expanded its hazard areas now covering more than 1,800 miles, up from about 1,000 miles covering areas of the U.S. and other countries along the flight path. The expansion is due to SpaceX's first-time reuse of a Super Heavy booster. Because of the aircraft hazard area's increase in breadth — from Starbase, Texas through the Straits of Florida, including the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands — the FAA is requiring SpaceX to attempt the launch during a window outside of peak times for aviation traffic. The company also has to maintain liability insurance of $500 million to cover claims from any potential mishap on the next launch attempt.
UPI
22-05-2025
- Science
- UPI
SpaceX mega-rocket Starship 9 cleared for launch following earlier mission failures
The SpaceX Starship rocket launches on its sixth flight test from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, in 2024. The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the launch of SpaceX's Starship 9 after two mission mishaps idled the program for months. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo May 22 (UPI) -- The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the launch of SpaceX's Starship 9 after two mission mishaps idled the program for months. "The FAA conducted a comprehensive safety review of the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 mishap and determined that the company has satisfactorily addressed the causes of the mishap, and, therefore, the Starship vehicle can return to flight," the FAA said in a statement. The FAA said it took several factors into account when clearing the Starship for a return to space, including public safety, unplanned debris and the performance of the craft's "safety-critical" systems. It mandated that SpaceX have a $550 million insurance policy to cover a potential hazard area that stretches 1,600 miles from the Starbase, Texas, launch site through the Straits of Florida, including the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos. The Starship 7 mission in January exploded minutes after launch, sending flaming debris raining into the Gulf of Mexico. The hazard zone for the upcoming launch is twice the size of the one created for the ill-fated Starship 8 mission in March. The FAA also required Starship 9 to be launched in "non-peak transit" hours. The Starship 8 mission failure stopped commercial air traffic in Florida when it went off course and spiraled out of control minutes after launch. Doubling the size of the hazard zone is partly the result of plans for Starship 9 to employ SpaceX's first-stage reusable fuel booster, known as Super Heavy, which is scheduled to return to the launch site. There it is designed to be captured with a pair of arms -- known as "chop sticks" -- and re-used in future missions. SpaceX has not announced a launch date, but scheduled airspace closures in the area suggest it could occur on May 27th, reported.
Ammon
01-03-2025
- Science
- Ammon
FAA OKs SpaceX Starship Flight 8 launch after Flight 7 mishap
Ammon News - The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday it cleared the SpaceX Starship vehicle to return to flight operations while an investigation into the January 16 Starship Flight 7 mishap remains open. The FAA said it issued a license authorizing the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 launch for the combined Starship/Super Heavy vehicle from Boca Chica, Texas after the company completed a required safety review overseen by the agency. The mission also includes a return to the launch site of the Super Heavy booster rocket for a catch attempt by the launch tower, and a water landing of the Starship vehicle in the Indian Ocean west of Australia. SpaceX said it is preparing to launch as soon as Monday and said "several hardware and operational changes have been made to increase reliability of the upper stage." The FAA said SpaceX met all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements for the new suborbital test flight. SpaceX's Starship 7 rocket broke up minutes after launching, sending debris streaking over the northern Caribbean and forcing airlines to divert dozens of flights. The upcoming flight "will fly the same suborbital trajectory as previous missions and will target objectives not reached on the previous test," SpaceX said. It said Starship's forward flaps "have been upgraded to significantly reduce their exposure to reentry heating while simplifying the underlying mechanisms and protective tiling." In September, the FAA proposed a $633,000 fine against SpaceX for failing to follow license requirements in 2023 before two launches. SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, who is leading President Donald Trump's effort to reform the U.S. government, last year called for the resignation of FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, who opted to step down when Trump took office. Reuters
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
FAA OKs SpaceX Starship Flight 8 launch after mishap
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it has cleared the SpaceX Starship vehicle to return to flight operations while an investigation into the Jan. 16 Starship Flight 7 mishap remains open. The FAA said it has issued a license authorizing the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 launch for the combined Starship/Super Heavy vehicle from Boca Chica, Texas. The mission also includes a return to the launch site of the Super Heavy booster rocket for a catch attempt by the launch tower, and a water landing of the Starship vehicle in the Indian Ocean west of Australia. SpaceX's Starship 7 rocket broke up minutes after launching, sending debris streaking over the northern Caribbean and forced airlines to divert dozens of flights.
Reuters
28-02-2025
- Science
- Reuters
FAA OKs SpaceX Starship Flight 8 launch after mishap
WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it has cleared the SpaceX Starship vehicle to return to flight operations while an investigation into the Jan. 16 Starship Flight 7 mishap remains open. The FAA said it has issued a license authorizing the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 launch for the combined Starship/Super Heavy vehicle from Boca Chica, Texas. The mission also includes a return to the launch site of the Super Heavy booster rocket for a catch attempt by the launch tower, and a water landing of the Starship vehicle in the Indian Ocean west of Australia. SpaceX's Starship 7 rocket broke up minutes after launching, sending debris streaking over the northern Caribbean and forced airlines to divert dozens of flights.
