Rosalind Evans
As the space industry observes with bated breath, SpaceX is on the threshold of launching its second spaceflight with the Starship rocket. At the helm, CEO Elon Musk is steering the company towards what could be a historic week, provided the pending regulatory approvals fall into place.
The anticipation of a second launch comes from SpaceX’s relentless efforts to cross the final frontier of federal compliance. Musk has taken to social media to express optimism about obtaining the necessary national launch license. “Was just informed that approval to launch should happen in time for a Friday launch,” he stated on Monday evening, hinting at positive outcomes from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s environmental review process.
However, the details surrounding this update remain mysterious, with no clarification from SpaceX to CNBC’s inquiries and no comment from an FAA spokesperson. The silence from the FWS is similarly deafening, with auto-responses indicating a staff retreat.
This upcoming launch is not just a second attempt but a redemption of sorts for SpaceX, following an initial launch in April that, while successful in some measures, ended explosively and led to an extensive safety review by the FAA completed on October 31. The subsequent environmental review with FWS has been the latest hurdle for Musk and his team.
With last week’s announcement targeting November 17 for the launch “pending final regulatory approval,” the world is waiting to see if SpaceX’s nearly 400-foot-tall rocket will grace the skies or if bureaucratic gravity will keep it grounded for longer.
SpaceX stands at a pivotal moment, balancing the promise of space exploration and the rigours of Earth-bound regulations. Musk’s confident projection of clearance for a Friday launch paints a picture of progress, but it’s a future written in the stars—dependent on the decisions of federal authorities. As the saga of Starship’s second launch unfolds, it’s clear that patience and perseverance are as crucial as technology and ambition in the space race.
