Photo credit: arstechnica.com
FAA Grants Approval for Starship Flight 8
In a significant development, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Friday that it has issued a launch license for SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8 earlier this week.
An FAA representative indicated that SpaceX successfully met all necessary safety and environmental criteria required for this suborbital test flight.
The FAA’s oversight included a review of SpaceX’s internal investigation into the failure of Flight 7. This investigation involved collaboration with NASA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the U.S. Space Force, revealing that the incident stemmed from propellant leaks and fires within the aft compartment, often referred to as the attic, of the Starship. These failures ultimately resulted in the engine shutdown and the vehicle’s disintegration.
Investigators found that the leaks were likely the result of a harmonic response significantly stronger than what had been anticipated. This suggests that the vibrations experienced during the ascent were resonant with the vehicle’s natural frequency, intensifying the vibrations beyond the levels predicted by prior ground tests.
Earlier this month, SpaceX conducted an extended-duration static fire of its upcoming Starship upper stage, aimed at testing various hardware modifications across different engine thrust levels. Feedback from this static fire has led to revisions in the fuel feed lines for the Raptor engines, modifications in propellant temperatures, and the establishment of a new operational thrust for the forthcoming flight.
To mitigate the risk of flammability in the attic section, SpaceX announced plans to enhance this area by adding extra vents and a new purge system utilizing gaseous nitrogen. These adjustments are intended to bolster the robustness of the section against potential propellant leaks. Furthermore, upcoming iterations of the Starship will feature the Raptor 3 engine, which is designed to reduce the attic’s volume and minimize the number of joints susceptible to leakage.
The FAA’s commercial spaceflight division conducted a thorough safety review and determined that Starship is clear to resume flight operations, even as the investigation into the Flight 7 failure continues. This proactive approach is consistent with the FAA’s previous actions, where they expedited launch license approvals for SpaceX amid ongoing investigations related to mishaps with both Starship and Falcon 9 rocket flights.
Source
arstechnica.com