Hawthorne, California – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently approved a launch license for SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8. This comes after a thorough investigation into the failure of Flight 7, which was overseen by the federal regulator. Following the investigation, it was determined that propellant leaks and fires in the aft compartment of Starship were the cause of the engine shutdown and eventual breakup during Flight 7. Engineers discovered that the leaks were likely due to vibrations during the ship’s climb into space that were in resonance with the vehicle’s natural frequency, causing them to be stronger than anticipated.
SpaceX has since made hardware modifications and conducted an extended-duration static fire of the next Starship upper stage to test various engine thrust levels. The findings from this test led to adjustments to the fuel feed lines, propellant temperatures, and operating thrust for the next test flight. To address potential flammability issues in the attic section of Starship, additional vents and a new purge system using gaseous nitrogen are being added to enhance the area’s resistance to propellant leaks. Future upgrades to Starship will also include the introduction of the Raptor 3 engine, which will reduce the attic volume and eliminate most joints that can leak into this area.
After completing a comprehensive safety review, the FAA’s commercial spaceflight division determined that Starship can resume flight operations. This decision was made even as the investigation into the Flight 7 failure remains ongoing. The FAA has been known to expedite SpaceX launch license approvals in the past, using safety determinations to facilitate the process amid mishaps in previous Starship and Falcon 9 rocket flights.