Image Sources: Business Insider, SpaceX
“Serial Number 8” of the Starship prototype’s launch at the SpaceX facility in Boca Chica, Texas was hailed as a success by CEO Elon Musk. “Mars, here we come!!” the chief executive tweeted moments after the rocket exploded on its landing, celebrating SN8’s successful 8-mile-high ascent with his followers.
Mars, here we come!!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 9, 2020
However, the FAA, or the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees ground safety and issues licenses for private launches, did not share Musk’s excitement.
SpaceX’s first high-altitude test flight of its Starship rocket, which launched successfully but exploded in a botched landing attempt in December, violated the terms of its Federal Aviation Administration test license, according to two people familiar with the incident, says The Verge. An investigation reportedly opened up after SpaceX’s refusal to stick with the FAA’s guidelines.
It was unclear what part of the test flight violated the FAA license, and an FAA spokesman declined to specify in a statement to The Verge.
The rocket destroyed was a 16-storey-tall prototype for the heavy-lift launch vehicle being developed by SpaceX to carry humans and 100 tons of cargo on future missions to the moon and Mars. The self-guided rocket blew up as it touched down on a landing pad following a controlled descent.
“The FAA will continue to work with SpaceX to evaluate additional information provided by the company as part of its application to modify its launch license,” FAA spokesman Steve Kulm said Friday, according to The Verge. “While we recognize the importance of moving quickly to foster growth and innovation in commercial space, the FAA will not compromise its responsibility to protect public safety. We will approve the modification only after we are satisfied that SpaceX has taken the necessary steps to comply with regulatory requirements.”
This has caused increased surveillance and intervention in SpaceX’s latest launch attempt, the SN9.
