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SpaceX Starship Launch Delay ‘Necessary,’ FAA Administrator Tells Congress

Agency leader Mike Whitaker fields questions about the delayed fifth flight of SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 04:58 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

SpaceX’s Starship rocket lifts off for its third suborbital test flight on March 14. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker was questioned about the delayed Starship Flight 5, with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk criticizing the FAA for excessive and "absurd" regulatory hurdles.
Whitaker attributed the delays to SpaceX's non-compliance with regulations, citing a missing sonic boom analysis, a Clean Water Act violation, and previous breaches of launch requirements leading to proposed fines.
SpaceX directly countered Whitaker's statements, claiming they were "incorrect" and disputing the safety implications of the sonic boom analysis and allegations of launching without a permit.

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FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker was put in the hot seat on Tuesday as he fielded questions from Representative Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s subcommittee on aviation, regarding the delayed fifth flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket.

During a committee hearing focused on FAA oversight of Boeing amid the manufacturer’s recent safety woes, Kiley squeezed in a few questions about Starship, which according to SpaceX has been bogged down by licensing issues “ranging from the frivolous to the patently absurd.”

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.