On Saturday 12th October, the FAA granted SpaceX the long-awaited license to perform the Flight 5 launch and landing test at Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas.
The license came in just a day before SpaceX planned the Starship Flight 5 test for Sunday 13th October. I received the FAA email that announced the license approval a few hours ago. The email confirms the grant of the license as:
SpaceX applied to the FAA to modify its existing vehicle operator license for the operation of the Starship/Super Heavy launch vehicle from its existing Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas. After completing an evaluation of all applicable Vehicle Operator License requirements, the FAA issued a modification of SpaceX’s Vehicle Operator License for launches of the Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program in Cameron County, TX on October 12, 2024. The modification authorizes Flight 5 of the Starship Super/Heavy.
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Based on the WR, the FAA concluded that the contents of the 2022 PEA remain current and substantially valid and that the decision to issue a modification of the existing vehicle operator license for updated operations for the Flight 5 mission profile for Starship/Super Heavy operations at the Boca Chica Launch Site does not require the preparation of a new or supplemental EA or EIS to support the Proposed Action.
Fully integrated Flight 5 Starship (Ship 30 mounted on Booster 12) ready for the launch and landing test on Sunday 13th October 2024. Credit: SpaceX / X (Twitter).– Advertisement –
Since the FAA has signaled a green light for the Flight 5 operation at the Starbase launch site, SpaceX is going to perform the test on Sunday morning.
The Flight 5 Starship launch and landing catch test attempt is scheduled at 7:00 AM CT. SpaceX will be streaming the launch live on X (Twitter) and probably on YouTube as well. Stay tuned as we cover live updates of the 5th Starship launch test (the 3rd one this year).
“Targeting Sunday, October 13 for Starship’s fifth flight test. A 30-minute launch window opens at 7:00 a.m. CT,” SpaceX announced on X.
SpaceX had been expecting regulatory approval from the FAA since August as it declared that the Flight 5 Starship is ready to fly. Finally, the license has been granted after rigorous environmental and safety checks for the Boca Chica Village, Cameron County, and the surrounding areas and facilities.
Map of the Flight 5 Starship launch and landing site at Starbase and surrounding areas of Boca Chica, Texas that could potentially be impacted by the Starship flight and landing operations. Credit: FAA Programmatic Environmental Assessment. – Advertisement –
How to Watch Live Stream of the Starship Flight 5 Test
SpaceX will be streaming the Flight 5 launch and landing test with a special broadcast from SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California.
Starship‘s fifth flight test is targeted to launch on Sunday, October 13. The 30-minute launch window opens at 7 a.m. CT.
A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 35 minutes before liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX.
You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app. The launch window will open as early as 7:00 a.m. CT. As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to stay tuned to our X account for updates.
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Video: Analysis of the readiness of the Flight 5 Starship by NasaSpaceFlight.com.
Author of more than 1500 articles on Tesla, SpaceX, and EVs. His work has been liked and tweeted by Elon Musk and other prominent influencers. You can reach him on Twitter @IqtidarAlii
