SpaceX is moving forward with its fifth Starship rocket test flight after receiving approval from air safety regulators. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the license for the test mission on October 12. SpaceX announced that it was preparing to launch the Starship on October 13, with a 30-minute launch window opening at 7:00 a.m. CT.
Elon Musk, founder, chief executive, and chief engineer of SpaceX, aims to make his company the first to build a reusable spaceship and rocket capable of ferrying people to the moon and Mars. The Starship is currently the largest and most powerful rocket ever built at 400 feet tall. It is designed to land on command when returning to Earth.
In this upcoming test flight, SpaceX plans for the Starship to make a precise controlled landing in the Indian Ocean. The launch will take place from Boca Chica in south Texas.
During its previous test mission, the Starship successfully completed its first full trip around the globe without losing either itself or its Super Heavy rocket boosters. The Super Heavy stage reached its targets before plunging into Gulf of Mexico waters after separating from the Starship.
For this fifth test flight, SpaceX has an ambitious objective: attempting to return the Super Heavy booster back to its launch site as another step towards achieving full reusability. Audible sonic booms may be heard in the area around the landing zone as a result of this maneuver.
The FAA’s approval came earlier than expected after earlier delays due to changes in flight profile that required further review regarding environmental impact concerns. SpaceX criticized what it deemed an inefficient process for government paperwork and unnecessary environmental analysis that threatened America’s position as a space leader.
NASA has already ordered two Starships for their Artemis program aimed at landing astronauts on the moon later this decade. Elon Musk plans for Starship eventually replacing Falcon 9 as SpaceX’s primary rocket for launching satellites and other payloads into space.
Note: Reuters and The Associated Press contributed information used in this report.