Space X Starship Rocket Flight Tests to Resume in Coming Weeks

Astronautics company SpaceX announced the second Starship test flight in mid-November, more than six months after its first attempt of extraterrestrial voyage.

The company updated on X (formerly Twitter) that a possible trial for the fully integrated Starship could launch in the coming weeks after the "pending regulatory approval" is finished.

The pending regulatory approval pertains to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) environmental review to grant Space X launch license from its Starbase facility at the Boca Chica Beach, South Texas Gulf Coast.

The USFWS assured that its assessment will not likely need the full 135 days to complete its review with the earliest go signal in just 30 days, on Nov. 18. The review began on Oct. 19.

Startship Rocket Flight Test History

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently finished its safety review of Starship on Oct. 31. The safety assessment was done to check risks to public health and property during the rocket's possible launch.

During its first trial flight in April 20, the rocket was detonated mid-flight after suffering several problems right after liftoff, including failure to separate from the Super Heavy first stage. The flight was delayed from the initial April 17 due to a frozen valve.

The FAA noted 63 corrective measures SpaceX needs to secure before its next flight runs.

Why Is the Starship Flight Important?

There is a lot of pressure and expectations in the Starships' space voyage, including a $2.89 billion contract with Space X to use a lunar lander version of its Starship model to deploy humans on the Moon by late 2025.

SpaceX's owner Elon Musk also contracted for another lunar mission, Artermis 4, in 2028 with a $1.15 billion contract signed in 2022.

As of writing, SpaceX has already completed engine tests for NASA's Artemis 3 moon lander in Sept. 14 using its Starship components with the power of the company's Raptor engines.