Starship SN9 Aborts Flight Test - FAA Approval Not Yet Granted

Without approval from the FAA, SpaceX was not allowed to fly SN9 today despite great weather conditions. SpaceX is ready to make another attempt on Jan. 29th if approval is granted.

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L2 Boca Chica (more clips and photos) from BC's very early days to today.

0:00 Starship is Ready to Fly
0:48 Forward Flaps Unchained
1:02 SN9 Spreads its Forward Flaps
1:38 Aft Flaps Unchained
2:00 Starship Moves All of its Flaps
3:50 Crews Inspect SN9 and Prep Flight Termination System
4:54 Starship SN9 Begins Fueling
5:29 Engine Chilldown Begins
5:58 SN9 Aborts Close to T-0
6:14 Frost Begins to Melt
6:47 Final Tank Depressurization

[NASASpaceflight]

Time Stamps!

0:00 Starship is Ready to Fly
0:48 Forward Flaps Unchained
1:02 SN9 Spreads its Forward Flaps
1:38 Aft Flaps Unchained
2:00 Starship Moves All of its Flaps
3:50 Crews Inspect SN9 and Prep Flight Termination System
4:54 Starship SN9 Begins Fueling
5:29 Engine Chilldown Begins
5:58 SN9 Aborts Close to T-0
6:14 Frost Begins to Melt
6:47 Final Tank Depressurization

[thismonstrosity]

How will we let starship be rapidly reusable if the FAA takes 10 hours to approve a seagull flying?

[tammymccaslin]

I love the way Starship tests her wings like a butterfly in the morning sun.

[johnhugo]

If the FAA was around when the wright brothers were building their aircraft we’d still be riding 🚂 trains!!!

[robnorwood]

Another great day of coverage! Lots of anticipation.Thanks NSF team. See you tomorrow
Thank you Chris for the Challenger memorial. Very moving

[TheDeadlockBuzz]

We were on the verge of greatness, we were this close.

[Backinthegame.]

Thank you Mary, you're a star, and all of the guys at NSF.

[matthewcoffman]

Watched for most of the day today, hope to see it launch tomorrow, is there any information known about tomorrow

[abhiyanlamsal]

Change faa approval rules..as elon mentioned with current rules humanity will never reach mars. I hope his words does something on faa side.

[fedora]

We were so close to liftoff too. The tanks were fillled and the engines were chilled and all we needed was triventing and that countdown to liftoff and FAA approval I hope we do get FAA confirmation and flight tomorrow

[PuddintameXYZ]

At best, it seems like the FAA needs some reform. Honestly, I think a seperate spaceflight administration might make good sense.

I'm as against expanding the adminsitrative state as anyone, but I think that might serve to actually simplify things

[arsharif]

At 1:59 was that a time lapse or real time? GREAT VIDEO as always! But I ask u @NASAspaceflight wen hop?

[Arae_]

I find it interesting that we're making such a big deal of a starship launch now, but in 3 years many of us will be sick of seeing a starship launch 4 times a day, and it won't be interesting anymore, especially to the public (who don't forget, got bored with landing on the freaking moon)

[SCRspace]

Thank God we have a video of a starship sunrise!

[AndrewDonald-submergency]

Somehow symbolic, unchaining Starship, free her to fly. Thank you Mary, @BocaChicaGal

[ansarnevrekar]

First sn9 had many problems and now when it was ready to go FAA came in middle can someone briefly explain what's the problem of FAA

[fireisfire]

*Puts on conspiracy cap* i wonder if there's any politics at play with the FAA taking so long to approve sn9's flight

[VideoJocky]

I am curious to know what the safety violations are.

[lordshipmayhem]

Today, January 29th, is my 60th birthday. What a wonderful candle on my birthday cake a perfect flight would be!

[theflyingcandleguyme]

Anybody who thinks they stopped that launch over “safety concerns has never participated in administrative government. Behind the scenes all those regs come down to cash flow my friends. It is just the sad sick reality.