SpaceX's Starship Clear for Launch Thursday After Receiving Federal Launch License, US FAA Says

08:10, 14 March 2024

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND (Sputnik) - The Starship is the centerpiece of SpaceX's efforts to develop a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry humans to the Moon and on long-duration flights to Mars and beyond. The system is designed for in-space refueling and the ability to land at destinations across the solar system and return to Earth.

Sputnik

SpaceX's Starship is clear to conduct its third fully integrated test flight on Thursday after receiving the required federal launch license, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement to Sputnik.

"The FAA is authorizing the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Orbital Flight Test 3 (OFT-3) launch," the FAA said on Wednesday. "The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements."

The license applies to all phases of Starship's third test flight, including preflight preparations and liftoff from Texas, the water landing of the Super Heavy booster in the Gulf of Mexico and the water landing of the Starship vehicle in the Indian Ocean, the FAA said.

The test flight is scheduled to take place between 8:00 am ET to 9:50 am ET on Thursday.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has previously expressed hope that the third flight will reach orbit after the second test flight fell short of that goal due to a mishap.

The Starship spacecraft triggered its automated flight termination system during the second phase of its flight, destroying the vehicle before reaching orbit.