After delays and a flap with the FAA, the Mars rocket prototype ran a vertical 10K on Tuesday.
Feb. 2, 2021 9:07 p.m. PT
LISTEN
- 03:12
Another rough landing for a Starship protoype SN9, which couldn't quite stop itself from slamming into the earth.
SpaceX video capture by CNET
The second flight of a prototype of Elon Musk's next-generation Starship rocket, meant for eventual trips to Mars, was picture-perfect right up until the landing, which like the test of an earlier prototype, ended in a fiery explosion on Tuesday.
After several delays and a dust-up with the Federal Aviation Administration over its launch license, SpaceX launched the vehicle dubbed SN9 from its Boca Chica, Texas, facility at around 12:30 p.m. PT.
The three-engine rocket flew to an altitude of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers), shutting off its three engines in sequence as it climbed higher. It then began a long fall back to Earth, as its predecessor SN8 did during a test flight in December.
As it came in for a landing, SN9 executed a landing burn to orient itself vertically for touchdown, then appeared to land hard and not quite vertical, exploding on impact just as SN8 did.
The FAA announced after the flight that the agency will open and oversee an investigation into SN9's "landing mishap."
"Although this was an uncrewed test flight, the investigation will identify the root cause of today's mishap and possible opportunities to further enhance safety as the program develops," an FAA spokesperson said in a statement.
SpaceX still considers the test a success and will continue to gather data for future test flights that will eventually take the prototypes to orbit.
"We've just gotta work on that landing," SpaceX's John Insprucker said during the livestream of the flight.
It became clear early Tuesday morning this might finally be the day for SN9's maiden (and only) flight, when the FAA said in an emailed statement it had approved the launch license for SN9, while also revealing the December launch of SN8 was done without the full sanctioning of the agency.
The revelation helps explain the weeks of delays before the launch of SN9. Last week, SpaceX and Musk engaged in a staring contest with the FAA, and the FAA didn't blink.
On Thursday, SpaceX went through the process of loading fuel into SN9 in preparation for a launch at its Texas Gulf Coast facility. But the FAA didn't give its approval for the flight to take place.
Musk aired his frustration with the government agency on Twitter:
"Unlike its aircraft division, which is fine, the FAA space division has a fundamentally broken regulatory structure. Their rules are meant for a handful of expendable launches per year from a few government facilities. Under those rules, humanity will never get to Mars."
In response to a request for comment, an FAA spokesperson said: "We will continue working with SpaceX to resolve outstanding safety issues before we approve the next test flight."
CNET SCIENCE
From the cosmos to your inbox. Get the latest space stories from CNET every week.
SIGN ME UP!
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
On Friday morning, the scene began to repeat when residents of nearby Boca Chica Village were evacuated in hopes the FAA was ready to give the green light. But shortly thereafter, residents learned there would be no test launch Friday and that it was safe to return home.
Then the drama deepened Friday evening when the Verge reported that SpaceX had violated its launch license from the FAA for the December test flight of SN8.
SpaceX SN8 flew high and landed hard.
SpaceX/CNET video capture by Jackson Ryan
While we don't know what specifically SpaceX was requesting a safety waiver for, the Washington Post reported that the explosive end of SN8 was expected and not an issue.
Whatever the source of the drama was, the FAA now seems to be fine with the Starship test program continuing to move forward. The wait for the next test flight might not be a long one as the next prototype, SN10, is already standing on the launch pad not far from where SN9 took off.
First published on Jan. 7, 2021 at 9:27 a.m. PT.
Large play-pause toggleJeff Bezos steps down as Amazon CEO...00:0001:30
CLOSE
Discuss: SpaceX Starship SN9 flies high, explodes on landing just like SN8
Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.
FAA denied SpaceX a safety waiver. Its Starship SN8 rocket launched anyway
As SN9 got the green light to fly, the Federal Aviation Administration reveals that its predecessor never did.
Feb. 2, 2021 6:50 p.m. PT
LISTEN
- 03:36
Boom. SpaceX's Starship SN8 prototype had an eventful landing.
SpaceX
On Dec. 9, 2020, SpaceX sent one of its Starship Mars rocket prototypes, dubbed SN8, on a high-altitude test flight for the first time. The successful launch and flight ended with a dramatic and explosive hard landing, which Elon Musk had warned ahead of time might be the outcome.
On Tuesday, we learned the whole scene came in defiance of the Federal Aviation Administration, the US regulatory agency that oversees much of commercial space activity and licenses SpaceX's Starship prototypes to operate in American airspace.
"Prior to the Starship SN8 test launch in December 2020, SpaceX sought a waiver to exceed the maximum public risk allowed by federal safety regulations," reads a statement from an FAA spokesperson. "After the FAA denied the request, SpaceX proceeded with the flight. As a result of this non-compliance, the FAA required SpaceX to conduct an investigation of the incident. All testing that could affect public safety at the Boca Chica, Texas, launch site was suspended until the investigation was completed and the FAA approved the company's corrective actions to protect public safety."
CNET SCIENCE
From the lab to your inbox. Get the latest science stories from CNET every week.
SIGN ME UP!
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
This revelation came on the same morning the FAA announced it finally gave the green light for SN8's successor, SN9, to make its own high-altitude test flight from the company's Boca Chica, Texas, development facility.
SN9 successfully launched and flew Tuesday afternoon and then suffered an explosive crash landing very similar to the final fate of SN8. Tuesday evening, the FAA said it would open and oversee an investigation into SN9's "landing mishap."
FAA later provided more details on the launch of SN8 in December, explaining that "the company proceeded with the launch without demonstrating that the public risk from far field blast overpressure was within the regulatory criteria."
Basically, the FAA is saying SpaceX didn't demonstrate that the risk to the public from a potential explosive blast wave was within legal limits, but it went ahead and launched SN8 anyway.
"The FAA required SpaceX to conduct an investigation of the incident, including a comprehensive review of the company's safety culture, operational decision-making and process discipline," an FAA spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "The FAA-approved corrective actions implemented by SpaceX enhanced public safety. Those actions were incorporated into today's SN9 launch. We anticipate taking no further enforcement action on SN8 matter."
So it appears SpaceX launched a prototype rocket without all proper regulatory approvals, and the only consequence was to perform an internal review and have the launch of its next prototype delayed by a few days.
SpaceX didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The launch of SN9 had been repeatedly pushed back during January. Last week it became clear approval from the FAA was the primary holdup, leading Elon Musk to criticize the agency publicly on Twitter.
Unlike its aircraft division, which is fine, the FAA space division has a fundamentally broken regulatory structure.
Their rules are meant for a handful of expendable launches per year from a few government facilities. Under those rules, humanity will never get to Mars.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 28, 2021
Nonetheless, the FAA said Friday it was working with SpaceX to approve a modified license for the launch of SN9.
"The corrective actions arising from the SN8 incident are incorporated into the SN9 launch license," the FAA said.
SN8's last moments.
SpaceX video capture
"I am trying to wrap my mind around this right now, and will likely have more to say about it, but I am just in complete shock that a licensee has violated a launch license and there seems to be no repercussions," former FAA official Jared Zambrano-Stout wrote on Twitter. "If a licensee violates the terms of their launch license, they did so knowing that an uninvolved member of the public could have been hurt or killed. That is not exaggeration. They took a calculated risk with your life and property."
I have spent some time contemplating the ramifications of this. Before you read this thread know this: I am posting this with the information we have and my opinion is subject to change. @wapodavenport @SciGuySpace @Free_Space @jacqklimas @kchangnyt https://t.co/5VEj599qoS
— Jared Zambrano-Stout (@Space_Jared) February 2, 2021
An FAA spokesperson said the agency will likely not be providing further comment on the incident.
Follow CNET's 2021 Space Calendar to stay up to date with all the latest space news this year. You can even add it to your own Google Calendar.
First published on Feb. 2, 2021 at 9:49 a.m. PT.