Overview

• SpaceX is set to conduct its ninth Starship test flight, marking the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster that previously flew on Flight 7.
• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved an increase in annual Starship launches from five to twenty-five, enabling a higher test cadence.
• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has concurred on specific frequency use for pre-flight tests, clearing a regulatory hurdle for Flight 9.
• The U.S. Coast Guard has issued notices confirming a launch window between May 20 and May 29, contingent on successful static fire tests.
• Starship's development is critical to NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission, planned for as early as 2027, and SpaceX’s long-term Mars colonization goals.