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3mo ago

FAA Clears SpaceX Starship for Flight 9, Expands Safety Measures

The FAA has authorized the next Starship test flight with new safety protocols, including a larger hazard zone and the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster.

Turks and Caicos resident Morgan May Luker took this photo of SpaceX Starship debris on the north end of the island of Providenciales, an area called Wheeland, on January 19.
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SpaceX Starship rocket Super Heavy booster test flight
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Overview

  • The FAA has approved SpaceX's Starship Flight 9 for launch, scheduled for May 27, following a comprehensive safety review of the Flight 8 mishap.
  • The Aircraft Hazard Area has been expanded to 1,600 nautical miles, nearly doubling the previous zone, due to updated safety analyses and the planned reuse of a Super Heavy booster.
  • Flight 9 will mark the first attempt to reuse a previously launched Super Heavy booster, a key milestone toward SpaceX's goal of rapid rocket reusability.
  • The FAA has mandated that the launch occur during non-peak air traffic hours to minimize disruption, as previous test flights caused delays and diversions for hundreds of flights.
  • Starship remains central to NASA’s Artemis lunar program and SpaceX’s Mars ambitions, with the FAA also approving up to 25 annual Starship launches from the Texas facility.