What the FAA’s SpaceX Draft Means for Starship’s Future

What the FAA’s SpaceX Draft Means for Starship’s Future.

#spacex #starship

SpaceX's planned Starship orbital launch is a critical point in the company's plans for future interplanetary travel. However, thanks to concerns over the environmental impact of Starship launches, the company hasn't been able to take off quite yet. Even with Starship's methalox fuel, which people believe to be one of the cleanest rocket fuel sources behind pure hydrogen, there have been a few questions about the massive rocket's effect on the environment.

Things went further downhill after many realized that SpaceX needed the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA's, approval to launch into orbit. Even though SpaceX had planned for an orbital flight for months, if not years, things were questionable for a while. Of course, it didn't help that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and the FAA have had quite a few disagreements, including the aborted SN9 launch. While it took a while to be confirmed, it turned out that the FAA had officially canceled the launch, thanks to "outstanding safety issues."

So, it would be no surprise if the government agency scrapped this flight, especially considering how things have heated up between SpaceX and the FAA. However, that might not be the case after all. After a decent wait, the Federal Aviation Administration has finally released their draft environmental review of SpaceX's Starship. This report is publicly available online for anyone to view, so even with 152 pages of bureaucratic filler, feel free to check it out for yourself (linked above) and see if you come to the same conclusion as us.

Include the current draft approval of SpaceX's "Proposed Action" in the other 11 categories, and well, the benefits for both SpaceX and the future seem great. Even though SpaceX might sacrifice their 2021 orbital flight to appeal to the FAA, the future 2023 dearMoon flight and NASA's Artemis Moon flight might gain ground either way.

[appleandeveofficial]

What do you think of the FAA's draft? Do you believe this preliminary report is a good sign for Starship's future, or do you think the FAA's leading on a bit further than where it truly lies? Let us know in the comments down below!

[RickTheClipper]

If they continue with those delays, China will have an operational Starship while SpaceX still waiting for some papers

[pebmets]

You failed to mention there were questions about possible impact to some of the wildlife, (certain endangered turtles, piping plovers, etc.).

The public comment period was extended to November 1, 2021. The virtual publics hearings are now Oct 18th and 20th.

[billinct]

This should have all been reviewed and settled before SpaceX bought the land. I doubt NASA had to go through this before building launch pads and supporting construction. I'm not trying to discredit local and state enviornmental requirements, but what can be done to benefit the wildlife displaced here? In the end, I susect little impact on endangered wildlife when all is said and done.

[charleslauter]

If these rockets work, we will be #1 again.

[noelbryant]

FAA what a joke, you need a Space Aviation Administration SAA, quicker if it had its own people

[NeverTalkToCops]

Why isn't Elon moving the entire operation to Colombia or someplace? C'mon man!

[sophiarichard]

*I don't know who needs to hear this but stop saving all your money, invest some of it if you really want financial freedom....*

[rahulbanerjee]

If space x build factory starship .moon then lunch. That will be faa not any poblem.

[Garryck-]

<sigh> Yet another "old news" video. Was hoping for up-to-date news, not a re-hash of something I knew over two weeks ago.

[yiethangmail]

Let SpaceEX have its way. Well I make over $25k weekly in crypto by following good strategies and analysis.

[Trp]

Must address atmospheric damage… bird desecration …?