While the Federal Aviation Administration has been working closely with SpaceX to approve the next launch of Starship, a required environmental review by a different federal agency could keep the vehicle grounded for months longer.
The US Fish and Wildlife service told Bloomberg on Monday that it has yet to begin its review of a new water deluge system that SpaceX plans to operate during its next launch. The agency is working with the FAA to complete its part of the permitting process, but said it has not yet received all the materials it needs to begin the review, which could take anywhere from one to four months.
The new deluge system is meant to dampen some of the significant heat and force from the launch. Starship’s first orbital launch attempt in April essentially destroyed much of the launch pad at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas.
Meanwhile, the head of the FAA is positive about Starship’s progress toward another flight.
“We’re working well with them and have been in good discussions,” interim FAA Administrator Polly Trottenberg told reporters Sept. 13, according to Reuters.
The FAA said on Sept. 8 it had closed its investigation into the “mishap” ending of Starship’s first orbital flight attempt on April 20. That test ended with the vehicle being intentionally destroyed after the first stage Super Heavy booster failed to separate from the main Starship itself.
The FAA, which oversees commercial spaceflight in the US, sent a letter to SpaceX outlining a list of 63 corrective actions to be taken before a launch license will be issued for the next Starship orbital flight attempt.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk said most of those changes are done and he’s ready to blast off.
