SpaceX Reveals Starship Flight Test 2 Launch Timeline

After an eventful test attempt of the Starship rocket late last month and the chaos that followed it, SpaceX is eager to make its next attempt soon. Starship is the largest rocket in the world in terms of its thrust and payload capacity, and SpaceX has been developing it at its facilities in Boca Chica, Texas, for quite some time now. The firm started testing the rocket's first stage in 2020 but stopped the 'entertaining' test campaigns as it focused on developing the first stage Super Heavy booster. These efforts culminated in the rocket's first orbital flight last month, which was a partial success but showed a significant miscalculation on SpaceX's front when estimating the impact the 16.7 million pound thrust rocket would have on the launch pad.

Now, true to its form of moving fast, SpaceX has filed a fresh application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which shares details for the firm's next test attempt.

SpaceX Follows Up On Elon Musk's Promise Of Next Starship Test In 'Months'

SpaceX's test attempt saw the 394 feet tall Starship rocket successfully lift off from the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas. The rocket uses 33 engines, most of which had successfully lit up during liftoff. The first stage of the test flight, namely the part where it ascends and approaches stage separation, was successful. However, things went awry from then on, as the rocket's first and second stages failed to separate. Instead, the vehicle ended up somersaulting in the air several times before the controlled explosives on board were activated, and it met its fate mid-air in the form of an explosion.

As to what caused the failure, multiple theories surfaced after the test. Most of these believe that the damage to the launch pad after liftoff impacted several of the rocket's crucial components (such as its control units on the tail side). However, SpaceX has not officially shared any details about what went wrong amidst speculation that Starship's flight termination system responsible for destroying the rocket also did not work as expected and took longer to destroy the rocket than it should have.

Starship's engines are visible as the rocket soars to the skies. Image: SpaceX

After the proverbial (and literal) dust settled, SpaceX's chief Mr. Elon Musk was quick to share that his firm might attempt another test flight in a "few months," even as most observers questioned whether the launch would be possible given the damage to the pad. NASA's Administrator Bill Nelson reiterated this estimate during his Congress hearing a week after the launch for the space agency's budget.

NASA has contracted SpaceX to land humans on the lunar surface, and Mr. Nelson stressed in his hearing that not only was the test a success but that SpaceX had informed him that it would have the next Starship prototype ready to launch in two months. The firm had previously informed the Administrator that it plans to land Starship on the Moon this year, with Nelson stating in a press conference last year that SpaceX's "plan is to do an uncrewed landing in 23, late 23." 

Now, it seems like SpaceX is putting its money where its mouth is as its fresh FCC filing provides a timeline for the second Starship test flight. The application seeks authority to communicate with the rocket during the test, and its brief narrative shares:

This STA extends the information in previous grant 0145-EX-ST-2023 and is necessary to authorize Starship test flight 2 vehicle communications from the launch pad at Boca Chica TX, and the experimental recovery operation following the Starship test vehicle demo launch. Trajectory data will be provided directly to NTIA, USAF, and NASA. Launch licensing authority is FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

Along with the narrative, SpaceX also provides a timeline for its operations and seeks authorization for six months starting from the 15th of June. This suggests that the firm aims to be back on its feet in just two months after the shocking visuals of its launch pad 'captivated' attention. Footage from the launch site has also suggested that repairs are moving quickly, and unverified reports have claimed that SpaceX is testing its flight termination system.

However, even if it receives the FCC's approval, SpaceX must convince the FAA to allow it to conduct another test launch. SpaceX's launch license for Starship limited it to one flight only, and the agency had explicitly stated that any further attempts would require pre-approval.

Written by Ramish Zafar