An environmental review of SpaceX's Starship program by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has been delayed for another two weeks.
It is now set for June 13, according to a Space.com report.
That FAA review called the programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) evaluates the environmental impact of SpaceX's Starbase site in South Texas, which is the site where SpaceX manufactures and tests its giant Starship spacecraft.
What Does the FAA Review Entail?
The PEA checks whether the launch endangers public safety in any way, while also evaluating any potential impact to national security and the environment, among others.
The procedure involves inviting members of the public to submit their views regarding SpaceX's launch request, and the huge response is part of the reason for the delays.
The FAA released a draft PEA last September, saying that the final report would likely be done by the end of last year. But the agency has repeatedly delayed its release, emphasizing that it needs to consult with other government departments and consider thousands of public comments submitted in response to the draft.
Starship comprises a massive first-stage booster called Super Heavy and a 50-meter upper-stage passenger spacecraft dubbed as the Starship. Both of these spacecraft are intended to be fully and rapidly reusable.
SpaceX and its founder and CEO, Elon Musk, foresees Starship as a revolutionary space vehicle, which could make Mars colonization and a variety of other ambitious space exploration milestones economically feasible.
NASA has also chosen the Starship to be the first crewed lunar lander in its Artemis program, which aims to bring astronauts on the moon in the coming years.
Starship prototypes underwent high-altitude testing at Starbase in recent years, but SpaceX targets a far more major test:its first-ever orbital test mission. That flight will be the first that involves a Super Heavy booster. (On previous tests, Starship upper stages have flown without the Super Heavy booster.)
SpaceX cannot begin the orbital test mission without a passing grade in the final PEA. And that's not the only regulatory requirement that needs to be fulfilled.
Other Regulatory Requirements
Asie from an FAA launch license, the Space X application "must meet FAA safety, risk and financial responsibility requirements," FAA officials indicated in the Space.com report.
If the PEA shows a passing grade, the Starshiplaunch will proceed from Boca Chica, for its first orbital test flight in the next month or two.
On the other hand, a failing grade will force the Starship to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This means SpaceX needs to transport the vehicle at a distance of around 1,000 miles, further delaying the launch.
However, if the FAA rejects SpaceX's request to launch from the site, the Starship will likely be launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. That would mean transporting the vehicle a distance of around 1,000 miles, adding a further delay to the launch.
