FAA greenlights Starship Flight 9 for launch following review of recent flight anomaly

SpaceX's massive Starship rocket is cleared for its ninth launch, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on May 22. This decision comes after a thorough review of the anomaly during Starship's last mission on March 6, reported Space.com.

FAA officials stated, "The FAA conducted a comprehensive safety review of the SpaceX Starship Flight 8 mishap and determined that the company has satisfactorily addressed the causes of the mishap, and therefore, the Starship vehicle can return to flight." They added, "With the Starship vehicle return-to-flight determination, Starship Flight 9 is authorized for launch."

The Flight 8 incident resulted in the loss of Starship's 171-foot-tall upper stage, or "Ship," which detonated high over the Atlantic Ocean less than 10 minutes after the launch, raining debris onto the Bahamas. Conversely, the first-stage booster, Super Heavy, executed its flight flawlessly, returning to SpaceX's Starbase in South Texas for a successful "chopstick" catch by the launch tower. This pattern — Super Heavy's success and Ship's failure —  replicated that of Flight 7, which launched in January. On that occasion, the Starship debris impact was concentrated on and around the Turks and Caicos Islands. A major reuse milestone for the Starship program, Flight 9 will feature the same Super Heavy from Flight 7. This new aspect has contributed to the FAA's decision to expand the hazard area for Flight 9 beyond those of past Starship launches. 

In an update today, FAA officials revealed that "the Aircraft Hazard Area (AHA) for Flight 9 covers approximately 1,600 nautical miles and extends eastward from the Starbase, Texas, launch site through the Straits of Florida, including the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands." This is a significant increase from Flight 8, where "the AHA covered approximately 885 nautical miles." The FAA also "required the launch window to be scheduled during non-peak transit periods" to lessen the impact on both US and international airspace. While the tentative launch date was May 21-22, SpaceX has not disclosed a new target launch date for Flight 9. However, airspace closure notices point to next Tuesday, May 27, as a possibility. 

Starship holds the distinction of being the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed, towering over 400 feet when fully stacked. Both its Super Heavy booster and the Starship itself are engineered for full rapid reusability, a technological advancement SpaceX believes is crucial for facilitating the eventual settlement of the Moon and Mars, as mentioned by the outlet. 

Recently, the FAA granted SpaceX expanded authorization for its Starship Vehicle. This permit significantly increased the allowed launch rate to up to 25 launches per year, a fivefold increase from the previous limit of five. Additionally, the FAA has approved up to 50 landings annually, with a maximum of 25 landings allocated for the Starship itself and another 25 for its powerful Super Heavy booster. The FAA's authorization also permits SpaceX to conduct up to three nighttime launches annually, with all nighttime landings required to occur offshore. Furthermore, as a commitment to environmental stewardship, the FAA mandates that SpaceX provide an annual $5,000 contribution to the Animal Health Department at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville.