Ilon Musk, the founder and CEO SpaceX, announced that the new Starship missile is completely assembled and ready for launch. It awaits approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has been delaying their response. The reason for this delay is not yet known.
Possibly, one of the main factors is the FAA’s requirement for more reliable security standards. The first attempt to launch the Starship in April was unsuccessful, resulting in significant damage to the launch pad and surrounding infrastructure. The FAA spokeswoman stated, “The investigation into the incident involving SpaceX’s Starship has not yet been completed. The FAA will not allow the next Starship launch until SpaceX addresses certain issues.”
In addition to the technical problems, the April incident also drew attention from environmental organizations due to a fire that occurred in the habitat of rare animal species. As a response, a group of organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity, filed a lawsuit criticizing the FAA’s decision to issue a license to SpaceX.
Following the failure, SpaceX not only fixed the errors but also implemented new technologies. Engineers developed a water spraying system and made upgrades to the rocket’s separation mechanisms between the first and second stages, aiming to reduce the chances of accidents. According to Musk, two test launches of the updated model were successful. However, despite his confidence, the FAA has yet to determine a date for the next launch attempt.
The Starship project holds significant importance not only for SpaceX but also for the entire space industry as it plays a key role in NASA’s various projects. NASA is involved in numerous endeavors related to scientific discoveries, aeronautics, astronautics, planetary research, space technologies, and education. Some of NASA’s most renowned missions include Apollo, which carried the first humans to the moon, Voyager, which explored the outer planets of the solar system, Hubble, which captured groundbreaking images of distant galaxies, and the International Space Station (ISS), a collaborative international orbital laboratory.