SpaceX, the private rocket company founded by Elon Musk, is gearing up for its second test flight of the Starship mega rocket. The test flight is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 17, and will mark a significant milestone for the company as it works towards developing a rocket capable of carrying humans to the moon and beyond.
The Starship program has been plagued by setbacks, including the first test flight, which ended in an explosion just minutes after lift-off from south Texas. However, SpaceX has been working tirelessly to rectify the issues and has since made significant improvements to the rocket and its launch pad.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given the green light for the test flight, noting that SpaceX has met the necessary safety, environmental, and other requirements. The FAA’s approval comes after it completed its safety review of the launch and wrapped up its environmental review.
The upcoming test flight will be a shorter, one-and-a-half hour affair, during which the Starship will test its propulsion systems and stability in space. The rocket will not reach orbit, but will instead dive towards the Pacific Ocean after passing over the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. According to SpaceX, nothing of value will be on board the test vehicle.
Elon Musk (Via Elon Musk/Twitter)
The Starship program is a crucial component of SpaceX’s plans to return humans to the moon and establish a permanent, self-sustaining human settlement on the lunar surface. The company has already received a $3 billion contract from NASA to land astronauts on the moon as early as 2025 using the Starship spacecraft.
In addition to its lunar ambitions, SpaceX is also working towards developing a reusable rocket capable of carrying both people and cargo to the International Space Station and other destinations in Earth’s orbit. The Starship program is a critical step towards achieving this goal, and the success of the upcoming test flight will be a major milestone for the company.
The test flight has been the subject of some controversy, however, with wildlife and environmental groups suing the FAA over its failure to fully consider the environmental impacts of the Starship program near Boca Chica Beach. The FAA has issued its licence for the launch, noting that SpaceX has met the necessary environmental and safety requirements.
Despite the controversy, SpaceX is pressing ahead with the test flight, and Musk has tweeted that the company is targeting a two-hour launch window opening at 7:00 a.m. central time. The success of the test flight will be a significant step towards fulfilling SpaceX’s ambitious plans for the future of space travel.
