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Regulatory approvals are now the only thing standing between Elon Musk and his company from conducting its first orbital launch.Summary
While Elon Musk awaits the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) reviews on the SpaceX license request, the company has completed engine tests on its Starship 20 prototype. Once the FAA approval comes through, Musk’s company intends going ahead with its first orbital launch. Key points:
Elon Musk’s SpaceX recently completed two test firings of the engines on its Starship 20 prototype.
In a series of tweets, Musk explained that SpaceX continues to work on improving its Raptor engines.
The company is preparing for the rocket’s first orbital launch while the FAA reviews its license request.
Musk has said that Starship 20 will be ready for its first orbital launch attempt in November, pending regulatory approval.
Starship is a massive, next-generation rocket that SpaceX is developing to land cargo and people on the moon and Mars .
SpaceX wants Starship to be fully reusable, with both the rocket and its booster capable of being recovered for future flights.
The company is testing prototypes at a facility in southern Texas and has flown multiple short test flights.
As at late October, the FAA was about halfway through its review. The proposal SpaceX submitted to the FAA is an application for up to five orbital launches and 20 sub-orbital launches per year.
References
May 2021 The Guardian SpaceX finally launches and successfully lands its futuristic Starship
Sep 2021 ABC Australia Launching Starship: Inside Elon Musk's plan to perfect the rocket to take humanity to Mars
Oct 2021 The Verge Critics and supporters come out in force to discuss SpaceX’s plans to launch from South Texas
