SpaceX Gets Fourth Starship Launch Permit

Preparations for the fourth Starship launch (photo: dock. SpaceX)

JAKARTA The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it had issued its fourth Starship testing permit on Tuesday, June 4. Now, SpaceX can prepare for Starship launch. After obtaining a fourth trial permit, the Starship launch schedule underwent little change. Initially, Starship will conduct its fourth flight test on June 5. However, its launch date has now shifted to June 6. "FAA has approved licensing authorization for SpaceX Starship Flight 4," the FAA wrote, quoted from Space. "SpaceX fulfills all other safety and licensing requirements for this flight test. Shortly after the permit was granted, SpaceX said that Starship will be launched from the Starbase facility. The test window will be opened 120 minutes before launch and its launch window will open at the earliest at 7 am. Although the date has been set, its launch time can still undergo changes. "As with all development testing, its schedule is dynamic and will most likely change (if there are constraints)." Launch permits for the fourth Starship test are slightly different. The FAA said that this launch license has been modified based on safety and accident investigations from other Starship testing.

For subsequent Starship testing, SpaceX and FAA do not need to carry out an investigation if Starship experiences another problem at launch. However, an investigation remains to be carried out if the Starship launch causes serious injury, death, or property damage. "Three approved exceptions include: a thermal shield failure during high warming; the cover system is unable to provide adequate control under high dynamical pressure; and the failure of the Raptor engine system at landing," the FAA said.