SpaceX was planning to get as far as sending its Starship into orbit this year, showing that it is capable of sending humans to the Moon and beyond. A successful orbital flight will take the company one step closer to sealing the deal on future manned flights that go beyond the ISS (International Space Station).
However, various delays and setbacks have brought a little skepticism surrounding the company’s ability to make such an endeavor within the time window. Including a “small” explosion that took place during a booster test last month. An event that the company claimed was unintentional but didn’t seem too worried about it.
Thankfully, most of the setbacks have been the regulatory and political types more than anything else. Including the intense environmental review made by the FAA. Thus the the rocket very well might take off this year sending Starship toward its first proper orbital flight. It might even take off as soon as next month.
The company hasn’t been given the final green light just yet, though. SpaceX has a few changes that are needed before it can be licensed for the orbital flight test. These changes came as part of the review and likely had to do with local wildlife and ecosystems that the FAA fear may be affected. Either that, or the right pockets need lining.
Due to the unforeseeable governing variables, there are no launch dates set just yet and SpaceX isn’t ready to announce anything promising either. At least, outside of a Tweet made by Elon assuring the public that the orbital flight is still a top priority for 2022.
2 main goals this year:
– Starship to orbit
– FSD wide releaseMany other things, of course, but those are the 2 giant kahunas. Will require insane work by many super talented people, but, if anyone can do it, they can.
It is an honor to work with such awesome human beings.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 22, 2022
The only thing that could change everything is that final go from the FAA in the form of a launch license. The agency holds the fate of the launch in its hands as always–and as it should, as you wouldn’t want random unannounced launch chaos happening all over the country. We get enough of that excitement from (certain) other countries.
