SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket is about to take off for its second flight. The launch day is quickly approaching, but after the first flight ended in a fireball, some government agencies are approaching this launch with caution. SpaceX is doing everything in its power to regain the trust of official organizations. The company has just one hurdle left to clear for its second flight. Here are the details:
Starship rocket is preparing for its second flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed its safety review of SpaceX’s Starship Rocket, bringing the company one step closer to its second test flight. Now, the Starship Rocket has only one final hurdle to clear before the flight: completing an environmental review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The unexpected explosion of Starship during its first flight turned into a fiasco in terms of safety and the environment. The launch pad was severely damaged, causing harm to a wide area. In an effort to prevent a repeat of this incident, Elon Musk and SpaceX officials are taking extra precautions. They have rebuilt the launch pad to ensure greater safety.
SpaceX initially announced that it was ready for the second flight on its social media account. However, the FAA stated that this was premature and that there were a series of tests, checks, and tasks that needed to be completed.
SpaceX has since fulfilled all the requirements set by the FAA. In a recent email statement, the FAA emphasized that the safety review, specifically concerning public safety, is now complete. However, the FAA has not yet issued a launch license, as there is one remaining regulatory hurdle to overcome.
In its statement, the FAA explained that the safety review focuses on matters that affect public health and property safety. It includes the evaluation of the applicant’s safety organization, system safety processes, flight safety analysis, and quantitative risk criteria related to launch, reentry, and vehicle destruction.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently evaluating the newly installed water deluge system at the Boca Chica launch pad. This review began on October 19. Additionally, the assessment will be conducted in consultation with the FAA under the Endangered Species Act. The evaluation is expected to take between 30 and 135 days to complete.
