The agency finalized the launch license Tuesday.
It was the last regulatory hurdle for SpaceX before the reusable rocket's next flight. It also laid the groundwork for a more rapid return to operations after future launches.
Starship's fourth license took a slightly different path through the regulatory process than those for previous launches. In April, the commercial space company requested the FAA make a "public safety determination" about the craft's third flight rather than wait for a full mishap investigation report.
SpaceX requested the review so it could continue Starship operations before the investigation into the last flight was finalized.
The FAA evaluated the craft's "safety-critical systems, the nature and consequences of the anomaly, the adequacy of existing flight safety analysis, safety organization performance, and environmental factors," an FAA spokesman said Thursday. It determined that the March flight, which resulted in the loss of the Super Heavy booster over the Gulf of Mexico and the upper-stage Starship over the Indian Ocean, posed no safety risks to the public.
Neither SpaceX nor the FAA has given a timeline for completion of the full investigation report.
Starship's fourth flight will focus on "demonstrating the ability to return and reuse Starship and Super Heavy," according to SpaceX. The main objectives are for the lower-stage booster to return for a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico and achieve a controlled entry of Starship over the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said previously said the flight's "primary goal is getting through max reentry heating."
In a move that could hasten future launches, the FAA said Tuesday that SpaceX proposed three scenarios for Starship entry that would not require an investigation if the vehicle again is lost. The agency approved the scenarios as "test induced damage exceptions" after evaluating them.
"If one of these scenarios occurs, an investigation will not be required provided there was no serious injury or fatality, no damage to unrelated property and no debris outside designated hazard areas," the FAA said.
The three exceptions are failure of the thermal shield, the flap system being unable to provide control, and failure of the Raptor engine system as the craft is landing.
As SpaceX crews are making final preparations for a possible Thursday launch, crowds are streaming to South Texas to catch a glimpse of the 400-foot-tall rocket blasting off.
Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island is one of the main viewing areas. Cameron County announced the park will close at 8 p.m. Wednesday for non-campers and open at 3 a.m. for launch spectators. Entry requires a $12 cash-only fee.
Traffic might be more of a concern than usual because the Texas Department of Transportation is doing maintenance on the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway that will result in intermittent lane closures between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Thursday.
According to TxDOT, the lane closures will occur in small sections during non-peak times. Still, the extra activity could add to long lines crossing the causeway.
The weather looks like it will cooperate, according to Express-News newsroom meteorologist Anthony Franze.
"Thursday is looking good. Rain chances will be very low and mostly clear skies are expected," he said. "Wind speeds will be only 5 to 10 mph Thursday morning, rising to around 15 mph during the afternoon."
© 2024 the San Antonio Express-News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
