Federal regulators have granted SpaceX permission to launch a long-awaited second test flight of its Starship system the most powerful rocket ever built following an explosive first attempt in April.
On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), responsible for licensing commercial rocket launches, announced that SpaceX has received approval for its upcoming mission, confirming that the company has satisfied all safety, environmental, policy, and financial responsibility criteria.
As per SpaceX’s website, the scheduled launch is set within a two-hour window on Friday, November 17, starting at 7 a.m. CT (8 a.m. ET). Additional launch opportunities are outlined in public notices to mariners, extending to the mornings of November 18, 19, and 20. Federal regulators have granted
The mission revolves around SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster, integral components of the company’s ambitious plans to transport humans to Mars. Additionally, these technologies are crucial for NASA’s initiative to return humans to the moon after more than 50 years, with Starship earmarked as the lunar lander for the Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2025. The success of this test flight is pivotal, as any setbacks could potentially disrupt NASA’s lunar exploration timeline.
The inaugural integrated test flight of Starship and Super Heavy in April faced an untimely end when the vehicle started tumbling shortly after liftoff. SpaceX, in response, activated the self-destruct mode, leading to the controlled explosion of both rocket stages over the Gulf of Mexico.