SpaceX May Launch Starship Early On 5th Test Flight

Anticipation is building that SpaceX may launch its powerful Starship rocket as soon as Sunday, October 13.

Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed SpaceX that it probably wouldn’t receive a launch permit until late November, as the agency required more time to complete its assessment of the proposed flight.

However, insiders have revealed to various news outlets, including Reuters and CNBC, that the FAA might issue the necessary approval any day now, opening the door for a launch from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, which the company has recently pegged as its target date.

According to CNBC, sources indicated that SpaceX’s ambitious goal is feasible due to the FAA accelerating its review process.

In an interesting development that heightened hopes for an earlier launch, the FAA omitted its previous November timeline in its latest communication, stating instead that it would “make a licensing determination once SpaceX has met all licensing requirements.”

SpaceX was vocal in its criticism of the FAA last month when it became clear that delays might push the timeline for testing the Starship into late November. The company argued that the FAA was taking an excessive amount of time, stating that it needed to proceed with test flights to align with NASA’s schedule for the Artemis program, which aims to send Starship carrying crew and cargo to the Moon in the coming years.

In a detailed blog post, SpaceX lamented that the process of obtaining government approval for a rocket launch was taking longer than the design and construction of the actual rocket itself, stating that this predicament “directly threatens America’s status as a leader in space exploration.”

In response, the FAA emphasized that SpaceX must fulfill all safety, environmental, and other licensing prerequisites before receiving its launch authorization. The FAA noted that SpaceX’s current license only covers the fourth flight of Starship and accommodates several launches of the same vehicle configuration and mission profile. However, the recent modifications made by SpaceX to the flight’s configuration and mission profile necessitated a more thorough review process.

The FAA also indicated that in mid-August, SpaceX submitted new information showing that the environmental effects of the upcoming flight “would impact a broader area than previously assessed,” necessitating consultations with other agencies, which further prolonged the review timeline.

If the FAA does issue its approval in the near future, it could be due to an expedited review process or adjustments made by SpaceX to the flight’s configuration.

The last flight of Starship occurred in June, marking its most successful test to date. If the company sticks to its current schedule, the upcoming fifth test flight will attempt to “catch” the Super Heavy booster using large mechanical arms as it returns to Earth shortly after delivering the upper-stage Starship spacecraft into orbit.