SpaceX has finally got approval from the FAA which allows it to move forward with the long-awaited orbital test flight of Starship on top of the Super Heavy rocket. The company has been patiently (I say that lightly) awaiting this moment and had already begun stacking Starship on top of the Super Heavy rocket in anticipation for this very result.
The company plans to move forward with the launch next week, as early as Monday morning. If the launch is successful, it will send Starship into orbit where it will make its way around and eventually land near the Hawaiian islands.
The clearance from the FAA included the environmental requirements as well as a number of other categories that SpaceX needed to fulfill or pass. Now that it has done this, it was given the license allowing the company to move forward with its plans.
This will be the largest rocket to have ever taken off, beating all previous records, including that of the Saturn V rocket (flown between 1967-1973) that had held this record all of these years. It will definately be a moment for the company to take in as well as another huge step for all of mankind (always fun to say that). At least, a step toward what comes next–which is more testing, and eventually, a flight that actually has cargo and a destination (like the moon).
Of course, since this is the first actual orbital flight for Starship, there is a great chance of it not completing its journey. The company is standing by to gather as much information as possible to assist in future launches and is ready for the worst. No matter what, it will walk away with something that will benefit it for next time.
