SpaceX has indicated that it has been prepared for the launch of its colossal Starship rocket on its fifth test flight since early August. The company anticipated receiving approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a launch in mid-September. However, recent reports suggest that the FAA will not issue a launch license until at least late November.
This development has left SpaceX frustrated, prompting the company to express its dissatisfaction in a detailed blog post on Tuesday, where it criticized the FAA for the delays in the licensing process.
In their post, SpaceX stated, “We were informed that the new estimated date for a launch license is late November, which is more than two months later than the initial timeline provided for mid-September. This delay is not due to any new safety concerns but stems instead from unnecessary environmental evaluations.”
They further elaborated, “While environmental protections play a vital role in ensuring responsible progress without harming nature, the prolonged timeline for our licensing process for Flight 5 has resulted in unreasonable and vexing delays.”
SpaceX lamented that the time taken to process governmental paperwork for launching a rocket has exceeded the time taken to design and construct the actual rocket itself, stating that this situation “should never occur” and could jeopardize the United States’ position as a space industry leader.
NASA is awaiting the completion of tests on SpaceX’s new Starship rocket, as it plans to utilize this vehicle for future Artemis missions to the Moon. The Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2026, aims to land the first astronauts on the lunar surface since 1972 using a modified version of the spacecraft. The upcoming fifth test flight will mark SpaceX’s inaugural attempt to “catch” the launching Super Heavy rocket with massive mechanical arms upon its return.
In a response to a request for comment, the FAA reiterated that SpaceX must fulfill all safety, environmental, and licensing criteria before receiving authorization for a launch. They pointed out that the existing license for the Starship’s fourth flight “also encompasses multiple flights of the same vehicle configuration and mission profile.” However, the agency noted that “SpaceX opted to alter both, prompting a more comprehensive evaluation.”
Additionally, the FAA clarified that SpaceX had submitted fresh information in mid-August regarding the environmental impact of Flight 5, which indicated that it would affect a larger area than previously assessed, necessitating more time for consultations with other agencies.