The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing a license authorization for the next test flight of SpaceX’s Starship.
The license modification, which authorizes SpaceX to launch multiple missions on the Flight 7 mission profile, was awarded to Elon Musk’s company less than a month after it launched Flight 6, which, while not repeating the feat of catching the returning Super Heavy booster in the arms of the launch tower, was otherwise very successful.
Associate administrator for Commercial Space Transportation Kelvin B Coleman said, “The FAA continues to increase efficiencies in our licensing determination activities to meet the needs of the commercial space transportation industry.
“This license modification that we are issuing is well ahead of the Starship Flight 7 launch date and is another example of the FAA’s commitment to enable safe space transportation.”
SpaceX has yet to confirm the launch date of the Flight 7. The basic mission profile appears similar to previous tests – a launch from Boca Chica, Texas, a return to the launch site of the Super Heavy booster for another catch attempt, and a water landing for Starship in the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX has already conducted a static fire of the Super Heavy booster to be used for Flight 7, as well as a static fire of Starship itself. On December 17, the company said it had also conducted a single-engine static fire on Starship to demonstrate a flight-like start-up. While there are differences between a sea-level start-up and one in space, the demonstration will build confidence in the system.
The flight will be the first of SpaceX’s block 2 Starship, which will be able to carry more propellant and which features updated flap designs. The changes mean that another sub-orbital flight will be required to revalidate the systems as well as the vehicle’s design.
After the targeted ocean landing of Starship as part of the sixth flight test, Musk said the company planned one more ocean landing and, if that went well, would attempt catching future Starships with the tower.
The FAA issuing this license gives SpaceX leeway to repeat the Flight 7 profile until the company can move to the next stage of development, presumably reaching orbit and subsequently catching the Starship on its return. While a launch date has yet to be set, January 2025 seems most likely, although squeezing one more flight test into 2024 is not outside of the realm of possibility. ®
