SpaceX, Elon Musk aerospace company, has secured approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration to conduct the second test flight of its advanced Starship and heavy-lift rocket in Texas.
READ: Lego Unveils Stunning Orient Express Kit – Recreate the Magic of the Iconic Train in Bricks!
As per SpaceX, the launch of the Starship rocket is scheduled for Friday, with a two-hour launch window starting at 7 am Central Time (6:30 pm IST). Local residents may experience a “loud noise” as the rocket ascends into space.
SpaceX
Walter Isaacson, author of Elon Musk’s biography, described Starship as the most powerful rocket ever built, designed to transport 100 people to Mars. The launch is set to take place at 8 am ET from the Starbase facility in South Texas.
SpaceX’s initial attempt to launch Starship in April ended in failure, with the rocket exploding mid-air four minutes after liftoff. Despite a successful liftoff, the rocket experienced multiple engine failures, failed to separate as intended, and began spinning out of control, leading to intentional detonation by SpaceX.
In response to the damage caused during the previous launch attempt, the US Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a formal review of SpaceX’s launch site upgrades, focusing on the water deluge system. Environmental groups raised concerns about the approval process, leading to a lawsuit against the FAA in May.
The FAA, overseeing a mishap investigation that concluded in September, called for 63 corrective actions from SpaceX to prevent similar failures in future Starship launches. Starship, being the largest and most powerful rocket ever developed, plays a crucial role in Elon Musk’s vision of transporting payloads and people to destinations like the moon and Mars.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX aims to be valued at half a trillion dollars by 2030, as stated by Ron Baron, despite challenges and setbacks in the development and testing of the Starship rocket.
