Elon Musk says there is a “good chance” that SpaceX’s Starship SN10 will launch this week after the FAA completes its investigation into SN9’s explosive test flight.
- SpaceX could launch its Starship SN 10 prototype this week, Elon Musk said
- The company was under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration
- The investigation looked at the cause of the exploding SN9 prototype
- The agency found no danger and deemed SN10 approved for departure
- SN10 performed the same flight at a high altitude of six miles
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed its investigation of SpaceX’s exploding Startship SN9 prototype “paving the way for the SN10 test flight.”
The investigation aimed to ensure the operations were safe, finding that the explosion did not endanger the public and debris was in designated danger zones.
The FAA’s announcement means SpaceX can move forward with the launch of its latest prototype, which CEO Elon Musk says has “a good chance of flying this week.”
Road closures around SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas, say spaceflight activities are scheduled for February 22 from 9:00 am GMT to 6:00 pm GMT, but it’s not clear whether the company is running tests or if the world will see SN10 its first six miles high. flight.
Scroll down for video
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed its investigation of SpaceX’s exploding Startship SN9 prototype “paving the way for the SN10 test flight.” And Elon Musk says it could happen sometime this week
The FAA opened an investigation into SpaceX after the launch of its Starship SN9 on Feb. 2, which ended in a rocket burst into a ball of flame as it attempted to land.
SN9 took off from the SpaceX test facility in Boca Chica on February 4 at around 2:24 PM ET.
The massive missile hit the six-mile target after about four minutes of flight, then successfully performed an aerodynamic descent on its side as it fell to Earth.
However, the prototype was unable to maneuver into the upright position before landing on the launch pad, making it unable to hold the landing.
Road closures around SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas, say spaceflight activities are scheduled for February 22 from 9:00 am GMT to 6:00 pm GMT, but it’s not clear if the company is testing or if the world will see SN10 soar its first six miles high flight
Elon Musk hinted on Twitter that SpaceX could launch the Starship SN10 this week
It landed in a deafening crash and exploded in bright orange flames and a cloud of dust, but the fire did not spread.
After the launch, the FAA opened an investigation into the accident to determine if SpaceX was following protocols – specifically, that no one or anything had been compromised during the explosion.
“The FAA’s top priority in regulating commercial space transportation is to ensure that operations are safe even if there is an anomaly,” the federal agency told DailyMail.com in a statement.
The FAA investigation of the exploded SN9 (pictured) was aimed at ensuring the safety of the operations, finding that the explosion did not endanger the public and debris was in designated danger zones
“The FAA will oversee the investigation into the SpaceX Starship SN9 prototype landing accident in Boca Chica, Texas.”
“While this was an unmanned test flight, the investigation will identify the root cause of the current accident and potential opportunities to further improve safety as the program progresses.”
Like many who have watched the live stream, the FAA concluded that the malfunction occurred during the missile’s return.
‘The SN9 vehicle failed within the confines of the FAA safety analysis,’ an FAA spokesperson told CNN“The failed landing and explosion did not endanger the public or property.”
The announcement means the SN10 would launch from the testing facility and attempt the iconic ‘belly flop’ maneuver on the return trip – but hopefully the latest prototype can still land unlike its predecessors.