The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has wrapped up the probe into SpaceX's explosive Starship test over South Texas last November, outlining a series of steps the aerospace company must follow before the behemoth can soar again. According to a report by the Space.com, SpaceX is barred from launch until it carries out the 17 corrective actions laid out by the FAA, encompassing hardware tweaks, operational changes, and boosted fire safety measures.
The previous flight test on Nov. 18, which ignited the FAA's scrutiny, saw both stages of the Starship vehicle erupt into flames at staggering altitudes above Earth. While the first-stage booster, known as Super Heavy, failed and detonated around 3.5 minutes in, the upper stage followed suit eight minutes post-liftoff. The Houston Chronicle detailed that Super Heavy's engines shut down unexpectedly and one engine "failed energetically," leading to the catastrophic conclusion of the flight test. Notably,, the FAA stated that "prior to the next launch, SpaceX must implement all corrective actions and receive a license modification from the FAA that addresses all safety, environmental and other applicable regulatory requirements."
While this closure does not signify a green light for the Starship's next mission, SpaceX remains steadfast in their "build, fly and iterate" philosophy, gearing up for the third flight. The FAA has accepted the 17 corrective actions proposed by the SpaceX-led mishap investigation, as mentioned in statements obtained by Space.com. These actions require substantial changes, including vehicle hardware redesigns, updated control system modeling, and advanced engine control algorithms for the Super Heavy booster.
The rest of the corrective measures are focused on the Starship spacecraft itself, involving "vehicle hardware redesigns, operational changes, flammability analysis updates, installation of additional fire protection and guidance and modeling updates," FAA officials noted. Despite the high-profile setbacks, SpaceX, helmed by CEO Elon Musk, aims to use the massive, stainless-steel Starship rocket to further humanity's reach to the moon and Mars. According to the Houston Chronicle, NASA's Artemis program, which eyes a return to the lunar surface, is counting on the vehicle's success, designating it as the initial crewed lunar lander.
Underscoring the significance of SpaceX's progress, Musk previously remarked that the upper stage of the ill-fated November flight would have likely achieved orbit if not for the payload absence-related liquid oxygen venting incident. The findings from this second-flight probe contrast the maiden flight's 63 required modifications,, underscoring an improvement despite the explosive finale. With these latest FAA-required fixes, the stage is being methodically set for Starship's eventual ascent and SpaceX's continued quest in space exploration.
See the original post:
- Elon Musk's SpaceX and Tesla get far more government money than ... - Quartz - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX fires up powerful Falcon Heavy rocket ahead of April 18 ... - Space.com - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX Dragon cargo ship departs space station and returns to Earth - Space.com - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX calls off 1st launch attempt of giant rocket in Texas - The Associated Press - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Watch SpaceX Starship evolve and explode on the way to its 1st space launch (video) - Space.com - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX achieves liftoff in Starship test but explosion ends flight early - Reuters - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX launches world's 1st satellite that can pinpoint carbon ... - Space.com - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- SpaceX Shifts the 2nd Launch of Its Starship Rocket to Saturday - The New York Times - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral with 23 Starlink satellites Spaceflight Now - Spaceflight Now - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Watch SpaceX's Starship launch on its 2nd-ever test flight today - Space.com - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Elon Musk's recent all-hands meeting at SpaceX was full of interesting news - Ars Technica - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- When will SpaceX Starship launch again? Here's what we know. - Mashable - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX: Axiom-3 astronaut launch pushed to Thursday at Cape Canaveral - Florida Today - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 4 people for a private mission to the International Space Station - WFDD - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Mission Im-pasta-ble: SpaceX Is Blasting Fusilli Into Orbit - The Messenger - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Axiom and SpaceX are disrupting Europe's traditional pathway to space - Ars Technica - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Crew Preps for Private Astronaut Arrival as Ax-3 Mission Nears Launch - NASA Blogs - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Environmental experts express concern about SpaceX after company's second test flight results in further damage to ... - The Cool Down - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Third Axiom Space private astronaut mission ready for launch - SpaceNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to International Space Station - Lufkin Daily News - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to space station - Newsbug.info - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- 'If it had had a payload, it would have made it to orbit.' Elon Musk reveals cause of Starship explosion (video) - Space.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 1st human spaceflight of the year on Axiom Space mission - Orlando Sentinel - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Meet the 4 astronauts of SpaceX's Ax-3 launch for Axiom Space - Space.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to space station - Mississippi Valley Publishing - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Launch Date Adjusted; Crew Harvests Plants and Conducts Fluid Research - NASA Blogs - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX Launches Historic Ax-3 Astronauts to Orbit - The Messenger - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX says propellant venting caused loss of second Starship - SpaceNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to space station - Salamanca Press - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- What time is the SpaceX Ax-3 astronaut launch for Axiom Space? How to watch it live today - Space.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- UPDATE 2: Success as SpaceX transports first humans for 2024 with Axiom's first all European commercial astronauts ... - SatNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Go for Launch; Crew Continues Space Botany and Fluid Research - NASA Blogs - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Updates: Axiom Space Ax-3 astronaut mission launches Thursday on SpaceX Falcon 9 from KSC - Florida Today - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launch today: Rocket set for liftoff in Ax-3 mission to ISS - USA TODAY - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches third Axiom mission to ISS - SpaceNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 4 people for a private mission to the International Space Station - NPR - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SOURCES: Stripe & SpaceX Are Buying Back Their Own Shares - Newcomer - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Elon Musk's Starship 'almost made it to orbit' before violently exploding, Musk claims at SpaceX meeting - Livescience.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- TPWD to consider land swap with SpaceX at Boca Chica - Brownsville Herald - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Why SpaceX Is Joining Forces With a Tractor Company - Gizmodo - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- John Deere & SpaceX and Mexican GM Corn Ban - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST - AGInfo Ag Information Network - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX To Launch NG-20 To ISS On Tuesday (updated) - Talk of Titusville - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- 'We have doubled the number of nationalities aboard' ISS as all-European SpaceX Ax-3 astronauts dock at space station - Space.com - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- List of SpaceX launches 2024 - Space Explored - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket Tuesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base after series of delays - KABC-TV - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- TPWD Commission withdraws SpaceX land swap item from meeting - MyRGV - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- T-Mobile Reveals Quarterly Results and Discusses SpaceX Partnership - RetailWire - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX Set To Launch Starlink 6-38 Early Sunday Evening From KSC - Talk of Titusville - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- NASA Invites Media to First Intuitive Machines, SpaceX Moon Launch - NASA - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Blue Origin and SpaceX start work on cargo versions of crewed lunar landers - SpaceNews - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX Delays NG-20 Launch to NET Tuesday 12:07 PM - Talk of Titusville - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Trader Joe's and SpaceX Argue the US Labor Board Is Unconstitutional - Mish Talk - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX Appears To Be Flying This Slick Looking 737 - The War Zone - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Estimating SpaceX's 2023 Revenue - Payload - Payload - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- What You Need to Know about NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 Mission - NASA - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- US military hopes one day to move supplies, maybe troops, on SpaceX's Starship - Herald Palladium - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Weather Delays Launch of NASAs PACE Mission PACE Mission - NASA Blogs - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX rolls out Falcon 9 rocket to launch NASA's ocean-studying PACE satellite on Feb. 8 (photos) - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX Thursday Falcon 9 Rocket Launch From Vandenberg SFB Delayed Until Friday Due To Weather News Talk ... - 1590 KVTA - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Sonic boom could hit Florida with SpaceX launch of NASA Earth science probe - Tampa Bay Times - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- UPDATE 3: SpaceX launches NASA's PACE satellite with new capabilities to study climate, ocean and atmosphere ... - SatNews - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Ax-3 astronauts leave International Space Station in SpaceX Dragon, eye Friday splashdown - Florida Today - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- NASA, SpaceX, PACE in Florida: Where to watch Earth-science launch - Florida Today - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX targeting Feb. 14 for launch of Intuitive Machines IM-1 private moon mission - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- The SpaceX Axiom Space Ax-3 mission to the ISS returned to Earth - NPR - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Astronauts Undock in Dragon from Station for Earth Return - NASA Blogs - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Will SpaceX launch two Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral this week? - Florida Today - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches NASA's PACE satellite to study Earth's oceans, air and climate (video) - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX crew of 4 astronauts to land near Daytona Beach coast Friday morning - Daytona Beach News-Journal - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- List of all SpaceX crewed flights to space - Space Explored - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX, Intuitive Machines First Moon Mission - NASA - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Texas Billionaire's Push for Land Swap With Elon's SpaceX Is Total Crap - Gizmodo - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- The Secret to SpaceX's $10 Million Starship, and How SpaceX Will Dominate Space for Years to Come - The Motley Fool - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- How to watch SpaceX launch the private Intuitive Machines moon lander IM-1 on Feb. 14 live online - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Russia is using SpaceX's Starlink satellite devices in Ukraine, sources say - Defense One - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Launch Imminent: SpaceX Mission to the Moon Will Have Embry-Riddle Payload Onboard - ERAU News - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX accepts DOGE, Cardano announces updates as KangaMoon presale thrives - crypto.news - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX to launch Intuitive Machines lander Feb. 15 on 2nd try for NASA's commercial moon program - Space.com - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Elon Musk's SpaceX asks to move incorporation from Delaware to Texas - Austin American-Statesman - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Amazon Joins Elon Musk's SpaceX In Mission to Destroy Federal Agency Protecting Workers - VICE - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]