Forget About Sleeping In... SpaceX Is Scheduling The Launch For 0800CT, 03.14.24
It's official... the FAA has given SpaceX a go for the next test of the Starship rocket program. At this time (late Wednesday night), SpaceX is scheduling the launch for 0800CT, via a 110-minute launch window, while numerous live webcast options (some are OK... some not so much) are available, starting with SpaceX itself. SpaceX's own live coverage will be available at 0700CT.
The FAA intoned that, "The FAA has granted license authorization for the third launch of the @SpaceX Starship Super Heavy vehicle. The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements."
More formally, the launch license proclaims, "Space Exploration is authorized, subject to the provisions of 51 U.S.C. Subtitle V, chapter 509, and the orders, rules, and Technologies, regulations issued under it, to conduct launches of the Corp. Starship Super Heavy vehicle.
This license is granted subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations set forth in licensing orders A and B, and any subsequent orders or other written stipulations, issued by the Office of Commercial Space Transportation, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The Licensee shall at all times conduct its operations in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Office of Commercial Space Transportation for the activities authorized by the license"
Eeek...
While many media morons call out the two previous launch attempts as failures rather than what they were... TESTS... the SpaceX team is following the same formula that allowed the falcon program to be one of the most dependable and reusable rocket programs in history.
SpaceX notes that, "Starship’s second flight test achieved a number of major milestones and provided invaluable data to continue rapidly developing Starship. Each of these flight tests continue to be just that: a test. They aren’t occurring in a lab or on a test stand, but are putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximize learning."
This launch is ambitious (as they have all been), and a number of solid program initiatives are in play... "Starship’s second flight test achieved a number of major milestones and provided invaluable data to continue rapidly developing Starship. Each of these flight tests continue to be just that: a test. They aren’t occurring in a lab or on a test stand, but are putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximize learning."
No matter the result, SpaceX promises that we will experience, "Excitement guaranteed." Again, like all things SpaceX, we have no doubt.