Primary Launch Date for SpaceX Starship Test Set for April 10, FAA Notice Says
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a planning notice indicating that a key launch test of SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy rocket could take place as early as next week. According to the notice, the primary expected launch date is April 10, with backup dates of April 11 and 12. However, the launch is still subject to SpaceX obtaining a launch license for what will be its first orbital flight test from its Boca Chica facility in Texas. It is worth noting that the FAA’s notice is not an indicator that a license has been issued or is forthcoming.
The licensing process for the Starship test is nearing completion and a license could be granted by the FAA as early as Monday, according to an anonymous source familiar with the process. The person cautioned that the licensing process may take longer due to an environmental compliance review. Once granted, SpaceX’s fully-stacked, 394-foot (120-metre) tall Starship rocket system, consisting of a Starship rocket atop a “Super Heavy” first stage booster with 33 rocket engines, will conduct its first launch.
The rocket system is expected to launch from the company’s Starbase facilities in Texas and deploy the Starship second stage into space. It will complete a full orbit before reentering Earth’s atmosphere and splashing down dozens of miles off a coast in Hawaii. The Super Heavy booster will attempt a landing in Texas near its launch site. The Starship is expected to be a fully reusable transportation system that can carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
This launch test represents a major milestone for SpaceX, which has been working on the Starship project for several years. The company has been conducting numerous tests of Starship’s various components, including its engines and heat shield. While the Starship system is still in development, SpaceX’s ultimate goal is to use it for a wide range of space missions, including carrying astronauts to the International Space Station and eventually establishing a human presence on Mars. The success of this upcoming launch test will be a significant step towards achieving those goals.
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