SpaceX’s Starship rocket is undergoing a formal review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), marking a key regulatory step before the launch system can resume flights.
The review was initiated on October 19 in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and focuses on the rocket’s environmental impact under the Endangered Species Act, reports Bloomberg.
“A SpaceX executive told a Senate subcommittee hearing on Oct. 18 that Starship has been ready to fly again for more than a month, but is being held back by the lengthy launch licensing process,” according to a person familiar with the matter. The FWS has up to 135 days to complete the review but does not expect to take the full amount of time, a representative stated.
The review comes after the FAA concluded its investigation into SpaceX’s first test flight of Starship on April 20, which ended in an explosion. The FAA prescribed 63 corrective actions for SpaceX to prevent another destructive flight test. The rocket cannot fly again until the FWS consultation is complete.
The focus of the review is SpaceX’s addition of a water deluge system at its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The system sprays water during liftoff to mitigate the heat and forces generated by the rocket. The FAA had initially attempted to re-initiate consultation in August but lacked sufficient information, leading to an updated biological assessment sent on October 5.
Vehicle is ready for the second test flight of a fully integrated Starship, pending regulatory approval pic.twitter.com/9tC4yKecmw
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 25, 2023
SpaceX is eager to proceed with Starship’s next test flight, as the launch system is central to CEO Elon Musk’s plans for lunar and Martian missions. “Vehicle is ready for the second test flight of a fully integrated Starship, pending regulatory approval,” SpaceX announced in a social media post on X earlier this week.
