SpaceX Yet to File Paperwork in Starship Investigation, FAA Says

Elon Musk and SpaceX continue to provide hopeful updates on the next Starship flight, but red tape may delay the launch.

Jack Daleo

Monday, July 31, 2023 at 05:04 PM ET

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SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy booster positioned on the launchpad ahead of April’s test flight. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's Starship remains grounded indefinitely after its April explosion, missing Elon Musk's projected launch window due to an ongoing FAA mishap investigation.
The FAA requires SpaceX to submit a final investigation report detailing corrective actions, which must be implemented, before modifying its launch license and allowing new flights.
An environmental lawsuit against the FAA (joined by SpaceX) alleging inadequate environmental review for the initial launch could further delay Starship operations for years by potentially requiring a more extensive environmental impact statement.
These Starship delays are also impacting NASA's Artemis 3 moon mission, which relies on the spacecraft, with NASA expressing concern about the mission's 2025 timeline.

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“Six to eight weeks,” Elon Musk replied when asked about the next launch of SpaceX Starship after its maiden voyage went up in flames in April. Since Musk’s June 13 comment, SpaceX has tweeted that its Starship Super Heavy Booster 9 was transported to the company’s Starbase launchpad and shared updates on completed propellant load and flame deflector tests.