SpaceX's Starship may soon take to the skies again.
Company CEO Elon Musk announced that SpaceX's Starship mega-rocket could be ready for its second test launch in a few months following the explosive first test launch that occurred on Apr. 20.
However, the second test launch could be delayed due to the certifications and approvals the company needs to acquire to do so.
SpaceX Starship Second Test Launch Details
SpaceX's first test launch of its Starship mega-rocket may be a disaster waiting to happen due to the technical issues plaguing it, but it's an expected result.
You may recall that the mega-rocket initially launched without a hitch. The rocket's engines lifted it as soon as the countdown to 9:33 AM EDT, carrying it high up into the Texas sky. However, the rocket's two main parts, the Super Heavy First Stage, Booster 7, and the upper-stage Starship prototype, Ship 24, didn't separate as intended.
This issue forced SpaceX to have the rocket self-destruct in mid-air four minutes after liftoff as a form of "rapid unscheduled disassembly" - also known as an explosion.
Following the failed launch, Musk mentioned in his previous tweets that SpaceX could launch its Starship mega-rocket again in a few months. However, a recent announcement from Musk changed that timeframe.
In the announcement that Space.com cited, SpaceX's Starship could be ready for its second-ever liftoff in just a few short months - six to eight weeks from now, in fact.
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However, a Drive Tesla article mentioned the company and its fans could expect some delays in the launch - one of the most significant obstacles SpaceX has is the requalification of the Autonomous Flight Termination System (AFTS) responsible for destroying the rocket.
Musk mentioned in a Twitter audio chat that the rocket only destroyed itself 40 seconds after SpaceX pressed the self-destruct button, per Engadget.
Another obstacle in SpaceX's plans is the Federal Aviation Administration's mishap investigation due to the hazardous material Starship's launch inadvertently threw out to residential homes, businesses, schools, and wildlife habitats.
Musk is aware of the investigation and said that SpaceX plans to replace the destroyed concrete beneath Starbase's orbital launch mount with a sturdy steel plate that spouts water to deal with Super Heavy's exhaust, preventing hazardous materials from being thrown farther than expected.
Pushback Against SpaceX's Activities in Boca Chica
The FAA is not the only one looking to hold SpaceX accountable. In an indirect way, Environmental groups and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas want SpaceX to submit a more comprehensive Programmatic Environmental Assessment following the effects of Starship's launch in Boca Chica, Texas.
"Permitting SpaceX to launch the largest rockets known to humankind is the type of significant federal action that requires full analysis," the groups' lawsuit says.
The two groups are also worried that the heightened risk of fires, pollution, light, and heat from SpaceX's Starship test launches will affect the surrounding environment and wildlife.
Related Article: FAA Gets Sued for SpaceX's Environmental Damage in Florida
