SpaceX Gears Up for Exciting Starship Test Flight Redo After Last Month’s Setback

FAA Approves Starship Flight 8

On Friday, the FAA announced it issued a launch license for SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8 earlier in the week.

An FAA spokesperson stated that SpaceX met all necessary safety and environmental requirements for this suborbital test flight.

This decision comes after a thorough investigation into the issues from Flight 7. SpaceX, along with NASA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the US Space Force, found that propellant leaks and fires in Starship’s aft compartment were to blame for the engine shutdown and the vehicle’s breakup.

Engineers discovered that the leaks likely stemmed from vibrations much stronger than expected. These vibrations reached a level that caused the vehicle to resonate at its natural frequency, intensifying the shaking during its ascent.

This month, SpaceX conducted an extended static fire test of the upper stage of the next Starship, examining hardware tweaks at various engine thrust levels. Insights from this test led to modifications in the fuel feed lines, adjustments in propellant temperatures, and new thrust settings for the upcoming flight.

To improve safety in the aft section of the Starship, SpaceX plans to add vents and a nitrogen purge system to better handle propellant leaks. Future versions of Starship will feature the Raptor 3 engine, which aims to reduce the attic volume and lessen the chances of leaks.

The FAA’s safety review confirmed that Starship can resume flight operations, even while investigations into Flight 7’s failure continue. This approach is similar to how the FAA previously streamlined license approvals for SpaceX as they looked into earlier launch issues.

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