I bet the contingent part is 'SpaceX may not proceed with flight operations until receiving written correspondence from the FAA' and somebody up there acting up and sitting on the 'written response' to be delivered

Generally speaking, when an anomaly occurs, there are no subsequent flights of the vehicle because, generally, there is no vehicle any more.

Mike C.

I don't think the issue is with SN9.

Nobody is willing to say what the issue is, but as usual I'm willing to take a guess.

The license refers to Starship as "the prototype" and "Starship prototype", always in the singular. This is either intentional to indicate that only one vehicle (now disassembled) was authorized by that license, or that they consider all Starship prototypes to be covered under the license.

In the case of the former interpretation, then a new license would have to be obtained for SN9 before it could fly. Assuming SpaceX knew the requirements and had made the application, then the delay may be due to FAA concerns in the wake of SN8's hard landing. OTOH, if they were required to, but failed to apply for a second license, then that would bring things to a halt as well.

On the other hand, if the latter interpretation is correct, then Paragraph 4 (i) must be met:
"4. Special Reporting Requirements: In addition to all applicable reporting requirements under 14 C.F.R. Ch. III:
(i) SpaceX must identify and report any anomaly to the FAA occurring on a prior flight of the vehicle or during any pre-flight processing of the vehicle that could be material to public safety.
SpaceX may not proceed with flight operations until receiving written correspondence from the FAA that the identified anomalies have been adequately addressed."

In this interpretation, "the vehicle" is any "Starship prototype", and if this is the issue, then the failure of SN8 to land successfully was required to be reported to OKC, which I would assume it was. However they would then have to wait for "written correspondence... that the identified anomalies have been adequately addressed." which would require a FAA safety review (words that have been tossed around) and that may well be what's holding the process up.

I have no idea which of these, if either, is correct, but I'd bet it's one or a combination of the two.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/02 ... fzFrwXd5Jc


What a picture.

Can't have that sort of thing going on. Especially in a privately owned shed in nowhere texas. Bring on the government to save us from this madness.

It used to be the purview of NASA to oversee and approve space flight operations. Since, NASA isnt in the picture, it fell to the FAA to create the liaison position and oversee flight ops. The same wold apply to any 'non-NASA' organization.

I wonder if any of the operations in Mojave (Virgin Atlanic??) were overseen by FAA. I would think they may have.

All non-military, commercial space is overseen by FAA/AST.

I believe that SNx are all flying under an "Experimental" permit.
This allows multiple vehicles of the same design to be flown.


I'm 90% sure this issue is the Mishap part of 4.i

I've also see what I rate as a 10% possibility that non-involved parties were inside the exclusion zone.

I've personally written and submitted a AST experimental permit application.
My application had been deemed substantially complete (basically shorthand for approved, but still reviewing your numbers).
I never used it because they changed the amateur rules to allow my operations under that rule , before the experimental permit was needed.


Paul

NET Wednesday at this point.
Evidently Boca Chica residents dont have the evacuation order yet.

I don’t hate the waiting. It will be amazing.

Now they say today Tuesday February 2nd

My old boss is going to space! He bought the entire shuttle, is commanding it, and is committing $100MM to St Judes

https://apnews.com/article/jared-isaacm ... ff71705ecb

SpaceX has received their FAA letter approving the launch of SN9.

That’s pretty freakin’ outstanding.

Live stream of launch. Here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4-PwxnJimg

What an awesome sound it makes!