Elon Musk’s Starship Gears Up for Launch, But FAA Raises Concerns

After more than four months since the explosion of the most powerful rocket in history shortly after liftoff, SpaceX is preparing for another launch attempt. The Starship rocket has been stacked on top of a Super Heavy booster at the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas. Elon Musk tweeted on Tuesday night that “Starship is ready to launch, awaiting FAA license approval.” However, it remains uncertain when or if the approval will be granted. The launch on April 20 caused damage to the concrete launch pad and resulted in dust landing up to 6 miles away, according to the Houston Chronicle. The rocket self-destructed for safety reasons after it failed to separate from the booster.

“The SpaceX Starship mishap investigation remains open,” stated the agency on Wednesday. “The FAA will not authorize another Starship launch until SpaceX implements the corrective actions identified during the mishap investigation and demonstrates compliance with all the regulatory requirements of the license modification process.” There has been a “frenetic” burst of activity at the launch site this summer, including the construction and testing of a new flame-deflector system to prevent future launch pad destruction, as reported by Ars Technica.

The FAA is currently facing a lawsuit from environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, who claim that the April launch caused damage to habitats of endangered species. It is unclear if another launch will be allowed while the lawsuit is ongoing, but the lead attorney, Jared Margolis, tells Spaceflight Now that the group wants the FAA to make it clear that “no further launches will be permitted until all applicable environmental laws are complied with.” (Read more Starship stories.)