SpaceX
There were moments of great drama on Thursday afternoon and again on Friday morning in South Texas. For two consecutive days, SpaceX evacuated the handful of remaining residents in the village of Boca Chica. The sheriff’s delegates cleared beaches and closed roads. And at the company’s launch site, a prototype starship rocket underwent preparations for launch.
The vehicle was ready, with the ventilation of the ground equipment. The winds were weak. And then – nothing. As the hours passed, the rocket remained on the ground. Unfortunately for SpaceX, the Federal Aviation Administration has not given its final approval for the launch. All of this contributed to a showdown in South Texas.
SpaceX, which officially said it was targeting a launch attempt on Thursday, did not publicly comment on what happened. Nor did the FAA provide details about what happened, except offering a generic statement: “We will continue to work with SpaceX to resolve outstanding security issues before approving the next test flight.”
While we do not know the precise details of why an approval did not come, it is useful to understand what the FAA is trying to do in terms of launch license regulations and what SpaceX must do to comply. This allows us to make some informed assumptions about what is delaying the launch of the SN9, which will now take place not before Monday. To assemble this FAQ, Ars spoke with experts on mission assurance and FAA rules.
Why is the FAA involved in the launch?
It is the federal agency with the authority to license commercial space launches by U.S. companies. The FAA is less concerned with the objectives of the mission itself and more about protecting the lives and properties near the launch site, as well as the airspace above. Conclusion: tThe FAA would not delay a flight test, unless there was a public safety concern.
How does SpaceX get approval for the launch?
For each launch of its experimental vehicle, SpaceX must obtain FAA approval in advance. The rules for doing this are clearly defined in the Code of Federal Regulations in a number of parts and rules. It is SpaceX’s job to convince the FAA that its vehicle is worth flying, that it has established a large enough security corridor and that it has given the proper notifications. The relevant part of the code is 431.31, which says that the FAA’s safety review will determine whether a company’s vehicle can be launched and landed “without jeopardizing public health and the safety and security of property”. There is usually a launch readiness analysis within 48 hours of the flight to prove this.
What happens if security approval is denied?
According to the regulations, “The FAA notifies an applicant in writing if the FAA has denied security approval for an RLV mission license application. The notice states the reasons for the FAA’s determination. The applicant can respond to the reasons for determination and request reconsideration. “It seems likely that we are now in the SpaceX reconsideration process.
But hadn’t the FAA issued “Temporary Flight Restrictions” for Thursday and Friday?
Yes, the FAA posted airspace restrictions (see an updated list here) for SpaceX’s Boca Chica launch site. However, these restrictions are not indicative of FAA approval, but rather a warning that airspace may be blocked at any given time. (It is similar for NOTAMs for aviators).
So, how do we know if a company has received a launch approval?
There is nowhere on the Internet to search for a mission-specific starship launch approval. Therefore, it becomes public knowledge only if SpaceX discloses it or if a launch does happen.
If SpaceX obtained permission for SN8 in December, what would be the obstacle for SN9?
Although the high altitude flight profile for SN9 is similar to the flight made by SN8, it is expected to go only 10 km instead of 12.5 km. A mission-specific launch approval must take into account each change in details, requiring further analysis and an updated security corridor. Perhaps something happened during the SN8 flight that caught the FAA’s attention and caused extra scrutiny. It is also possible that a significant problem has arisen between SN8 and SN9 flights.
Was SpaceX trying to intimidate the FAA by supplying the Starship for a possible launch?
Without knowing SpaceX’s intentions, it is impossible to answer that. The company may simply have conducted a wet dress rehearsal test. But any intimidation, like loading propellant, or Elon Musk frustration on Twitter, would hardly work with Wayne Monteith, FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transport. He is a highly regarded employee, not known for being influenced by tweets.
Is the FAA trying to contain SpaceX?
No. It is in the FAA’s interest to license and promote commercial space activities. However, the federal agency is overwhelmed, as an increasing number of companies are seeking licenses. It is likely that the FAA will bring in additional resources to deal with the remaining issues with the launch of the starship in South Texas to try to get the company to fly.
Are the current licensing regulations too heavy?
Most likely. There are many companies trying to create responsive spaces, and the FAA is trying to streamline the licensing process. He is looking to form teams to increase his ability to review launch applications. The FAA took a step towards being more agile in December by publishing a final rule on launch and re-entry licensing requirements. But this is an ongoing process.
Could SpaceX just be launched into the sea to avoid this?
SpaceX recently acquired two large offshore platforms to launch and land its Starship vehicle. However, it did not do this to circumvent FAA licensing. Similar to SeaLaunch, the company would still operate under FAA regulations. Trying to launch into international waters, if anything, would probably make it more difficult for SpaceX from a regulatory standpoint.
What happens if SpaceX is started without approval?
Uhh, no, the company will not be dishonest. And, in addition to licensing commercial launches, the FAA is also conducting an environmental review of SpaceX’s facilities in southern Texas for their suitability for launching starships and superheavy craft.
So, what happens next?
Cooler heads are likely to prevail, and SpaceX and the FAA will work together on Friday and the weekend to secure the necessary permits. Perhaps Musk will invite Monteith to see the launch of the company’s mission control facility in South Texas. In any case, this is not the first rodeo for Musk or Monteith, and the money is with them to solve it.