CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On October 31, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it had completed the safety review portion of the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy license evaluation. This is a major milestone for SpaceX, as it brings the company one step closer to a second launch of its next-generation Starship spacecraft.
The safety review assessed the risks that a Starship launch might pose to public health and property. It evaluated SpaceX’s “safety organization, system safety processes, flight safety analysis, and quantitative risk criteria for launch, reentry, and vehicle disposal,” according to an FAA spokesperson.
While the safety review is complete, SpaceX is still waiting for the results of the environmental assessment, which the FAA is conducting in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). That updated biological assessment, being performed under the Endangered Species Act, will examine potential impacts to the local environment.
Once the environmental assessment is complete, the FAA will be able to issue a final decision on SpaceX’s Starship launch license. If the license is approved, SpaceX could launch its next Starship test flight as early as early 2024.
The completion of the safety review is a significant achievement for SpaceX, as it demonstrates the company’s commitment to safety and its ability to meet the FAA’s rigorous requirements. It is also a major milestone for the development of Starship, which has the potential to revolutionize space travel.
Starship is a fully reusable launch system that is designed to transport humans and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. It is being developed by SpaceX as part of its ambitions to make space travel more accessible and affordable. The safety review brings SpaceX one step closer to realizing that vision.
