All posts tagged: starbase

SpaceX Fires Up Starship Upper Stage for Ninth Test Flight in Static Fire Trial

SpaceX Fires Up Starship Upper Stage for Ninth Test Flight in Static Fire Trial

Published by Webster

SpaceX’s next-generation Starship spacecraft has fired up in another test as the company prepares for its ninth flight. Starship conducted a full-duration static fire of its upper stage at the Starbase facility in South Texas on May 12th. The 171-foot-tall (52-metre) vehicle fired all six of its mighty Raptor engines for the full-duration burn, which took about 60 seconds. This marked the third such static fire for this specific ship, which is now undergoing final checks. SpaceX shared video and images of the trial in a post on X the following day. Starship Nears Ninth Launch as SpaceX Advances Toward Mars-Ready Reusability As per a Space.com report, the static fire is one of the last key milestones before the vehicle’s upcoming launch, though no date has yet been announced. The booster assigned to Flight 9 has already conducted a static fire test, sparking talk it may only be weeks from flight. Fully stacked, Starship stands 403.5 feet, making it the most powerful rocket system ever assembled. Its super-heavy booster and ship upper stage are intended for full reuse, a requirement …

SpaceX Gets FAA Green Light for 25 Annual Starship Launches from Texas’ Starbase Facility

SpaceX Gets FAA Green Light for 25 Annual Starship Launches from Texas’ Starbase Facility

Published by Webster

SpaceX has received approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to increase the launch rate of its Starship rocket to up to 25 launches a year from its Starbase facility in South Texas. On May 6, the FAA published a final environmental assessment that found that the expansion of Starship operations would not have a significant environmental impact on the area. The landings are approved for an equal number for each stage — the Super Heavy and upper-stage Starship vehicle — at the same facility, representative of a significant advancement in SpaceX’s ultimate goals for rapid rocket reusability and deep space travel. FAA Clears Path for SpaceX to Scale Up Starship Launches Without Further Environmental Review As per the FAA’s 53-page document titled Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision, the proposed expansion meets the environmental compliance standards set under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The agency determined that a full environmental impact statement was unnecessary, confirming previous assessments outlined in a draft released last November. SpaceX’s operator licence has now been …