The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized SpaceX to resume test flights of its Starship rocket following an investigation into the booster failure recorded during a launch in May.

The approval came after the company completed a review of the incident and introduced a series of engineering modifications aimed at improving the rocket’s performance and reliability.

SpaceX announced that the next Starship test flight could take place as early as mid July.

The mission will mark another important milestone in the development of the company’s next generation launch system and will also be the first to carry third generation Starlink satellites into space.

These satellites are designed to improve internet coverage, increase network capacity, and provide faster connectivity for users around the world.
During the previous test mission, the Starship upper stage successfully separated from the booster and completed several planned objectives, including deploying test payloads.

However, the Super Heavy booster experienced problems while attempting to return to Earth after stage separation. Its engines failed to restart as expected, causing the booster to lose control before falling into the Gulf of Mexico.

Investigators later identified issues relating to engine performance and heat exposure during flight as the most likely causes of the failure.
Following the investigation, SpaceX said it had updated the engine startup sequence, strengthened key hardware components, and improved its monitoring and safety systems to reduce the likelihood of similar problems.

The company also made adjustments to the booster’s engine restart process and upgraded the rocket’s operational software to improve overall flight stability during future missions.

The upcoming test flight is considered an important step in SpaceX’s long term plans to develop a fully reusable rocket system capable of supporting satellite deployment, deep space exploration, and future missions to the Moon and Mars.

Success in the next launch would move the company closer to achieving those ambitions while providing valuable data for further improvements to one of the world’s most advanced space transportation systems.

Source: TechCrunch