The FAA grants Starship Flight 5 license, SpaceX readies for launch on Sunday morning

The rift between SpaceX and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the Starship Flight 5 program is over, as the regulatory authority has granted a license for the flight and landing test.

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.

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.

Further details on the FAA website.

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.

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.

SpaceX wrote the details on its Flight 5 official webpage as:

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.

Stay tuned for future updates on Starship and SpaceX, Follow us on:
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