FAA may authorise first orbital launch of SpaceX Starship on 10, 11 or 12 April
It was recently reported that SpaceX has sent the Starship to the launch pad in anticipation of its first orbital flight. It could take place next week, and the chances of that happening have increased.
Here's What We Know
It was previously reported that Starship could take off for the first time on April 10, 2023. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published recommendations that mention several possible dates for Starship's launch.
The document indicated that the FAA could set the test flight for April 10 with backup dates of April 11 and 12. However, regulator officials stressed that the notice should not be taken as evidence of launch approval.
SpaceX has yet to obtain a licence authorising the launch of the spacecraft. A Bloomberg source familiar with the licensing procedure says that Starship will not receive approval before April 10. It also considers a launch on April 11 or 12 unlikely. An FAA spokesman added that the reference to dates in the advisory does not mean the regulator has issued or plans to issue a license.
