SpaceX rocket launch overview:ย
- Who: The Federal Aviation Administration completed an investigation of an April 20 SpaceX launch mishap.
- Why: The FAA says that it found 63 SpaceX corrective actions that must take place before SpaceX can conduct another Starship rocket launch.
- Where: The announcement came from the FAAโs Washington, D.C., office after a mishap on launch from Boca Chica, Texas.
The Federal Aviation Administration is requiring SpaceX to complete 63 corrective actions before conducting another launch after an April 20 mishap that led to its Starship rocket self-destructing.
The SpaceX rocket launch investigation led to findings that SpaceX must redesign its vehicle hardware to prevent leaks and fires, redesign its launch pad to increase its robustness, incorporate additional reviews in the design process, add additional analysis and testing of safety critical systems and components into its process and add additional change control practices, the FAA said.
โDuring lift-off, structural failure of the launch pad deck foundation occurred, sending debris and sand into the air,โ said an FAA letter to SpaceX Director of Starship Reliability Shana Diez. โOn ascent, the vehicle deviated from the expected trajectory, resulting in the Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS) issuing a destruct command. After an unexpected delay following AFSS activation, Starship broke up, resulting in the loss of the launch vehicle.โ
SpaceX corrective actions must be completed and approved, under threat of future enforcement, FAA saysย
The SpaceX corrective actions that impact public safety must all be completed and then SpaceX is required to apply for and receive a modified license from the FAA before any further Starship launches.ย
When the application occurs, SpaceX will have to prove that it made all 63 corrective actions that led to the April 20 mishap and show how it will prevent those issues in the future. If the modifications are approved by the FAA, SpaceX will then be required to continue its operation using the new procedures.
If the SpaceX corrective actions are not followed in the future, it will be grounds for enforcement by the FAA, the department said. Closure of the SpaceX rocket launch investigation does not mean that any future reviews will be approved.
SpaceX is also facing a discrimination lawsuit from the United States Department of Justice over the companyโs hiring practices related to asylees and refugees.
Have you watched any of the SpaceX Starship launches? Let us know in the comments.
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One thought on SpaceX must take numerous corrective actions prior to next mega rocket launch
Iโm not sure if you know what youโre talking about since the 63 items on the list are actually the list of items SpaceX sent to the FAA saying that these are the things that weโve changed since the last launch. The FAA just rubber stamped the list and sent them down the hall to speak to the Environmental Protection Agency.