The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that SpaceX must keep their Starship Super Heavy rocket on the ground until the agency's investigation of the April launch is complete. During this launch, the Starship had exploded mid-flight. The FAA has furthermore stated that SpaceX must accomplish 63 corrective actions before launching another Starship test flight.
The FAA announced on Friday that SpaceX needs to make 63 corrective actions before it is allowed to perform another test flight of its Starship Super Heavy rocket. CEO Elon Musk had posted on X (formerly Twitter) earlier in the week, claiming that the rocket was ready to launch, with just the FAA license approval needed. An emailed statement from the agency stated that their final report identified many causes for the April 20, 2023 mishap and listed the corrective actions that SpaceX needs to take in order to prevent such an event from happening again. These actions include redesigning vehicle hardware to stop any potential leaks and fires, and making changes to the launch pad for increased robustness. Additionally, there will be additional reviews, analyses, and tests performed on safety critical elements, such as the Autonomous Flight Safety System. In order to launch Starships again in Boca Chica, Texas, the company must first implement all actions regarding public safety, receive a license modification from the FAA in line with safety and environmental regulations, and then apply for the license. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment.
The FAA was in charge of the mishap investigation, with NASA and the National Transportation Safety Board observing, and the investigation report will not be made public due to sensitive information. The first Starship launch failed to reach space after losing multiple engines, resulting in a fire on state park land, and impacting the habitat of some endangered wildlife. This has resulted in certain environmental and cultural heritage nonprofits filing a lawsuit against the FAA, with SpaceX joining as a defendant, for not conducting an appropriate environmental review before allowing the launch.
SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet business is heavily reliant on the Starship program, with a global network currently providing services to over 50 countries. There have been reports of Starlink providing battlefield communications in Ukraine, as well as Musk using the network to influence battlefield strategy and outcomes there.
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