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In a significant development for space exploration, SpaceX has received the green light from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Starship Flight 7. The FAA conveyed this approval via an email to journalists earlier today, emphasizing that the authorization has been granted “well ahead”of the planned launch date. This swift approval highlights the FAA’s dedication to facilitating secure space transportation.
To streamline the approval process for Starship Flight 8, the FAA will implement a “test-induced damage exceptions”policy. This means that certain mishap scenarios identified during Flight 7 will not necessitate extensive investigations, thus expediting the licensing for future flights. Historically, mishap investigations have introduced significant delays in scheduling subsequent launches.
Potential for Expedited Approval of Starship Flight 8
Currently, the most significant information regarding Starship Flight 7 is encapsulated in a letter from NASA to the FAA. This letter seeks permission for NASA to calibrate its observation aircraft to adequately track the upper-stage of the Starship. Speculation indicates a possible launch in January, although SpaceX has recently conducted static fire tests on both the first and second stages of the rocket within the last fortnight. These static fire tests are critical preliminary steps and indicate that a launch could occur as soon as later this month.
Historically, prior Starship launches have taken place within a day following FAA approval; however, this instance presents a slight deviation. As of now, SpaceX has yet to assemble the full stack of rockets at the launch pad. The company released footage showcasing a successful static fire of a single Raptor vacuum engine, further testing its capabilities for in-space relighting. This relighting feature, which was first demonstrated during Starship Flight 6, is vital for orbital tests, allowing mission controllers to make trajectory adjustments in the event of an anomaly.
The FAA’s newly established exceptions encompass potential issues that may arise during the flight, which could pose risks to public safety. According to the FAA, “all public safety requirements have been satisfactorily met,”allowing SpaceX to bypass a lengthy mishap investigation if these scenarios occur during Flight 7. The list of anomalies includes various system failures, such as:
- Thermal shield failure during extreme heating.
- Flap system failure under high dynamic pressure.
- Raptor engine system failure during landing burns.
- In-space Raptor engine system failure during demonstration burns.
- Super Heavy system failures during post-boost safety procedures.
The FAA’s exemption is contingent upon ensuring no loss of life, property damage, or debris falling outside of designated safety zones. During Flight 7, SpaceX aims to successfully catch the 232-foot-tall Starship Super Heavy booster using its launch tower, while also testing several advancements in the upper-stage rocket, including enhanced forward flaps, increased tank sizes, and upgraded heat shield tiles.
Single engine static fire demonstrating a flight-like startup for an in-space burn
pic.twitter.com/jELpcCOaO5— SpaceX (@SpaceX)
December 17, 2024
For more information and visuals regarding this development, visit this source.
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