Meanwhile, in the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) once again postponed the flight of the Starship flying barrel. Rather, they postponed the issuance of a license for the Starship orbital launch by a month. This is because the FAA needs another month to discuss the environmental situation at the Texas spaceport. Now the deadline by which the agency is committed to granting a license is March 28, 2022 (originally the decision was supposed to come out in November 2021).
Elon Musk, after another transfer, said that if transfers continue or a launch license is not obtained, then SpaceX will transfer tests of a super-heavy rocket to Cape Canaveral, i.e., to the main spaceport of the United States. Namely, to the site at 39A in Florida. This is because SpaceX already has permission for orbital launches from this cosmodrome and no examinations are necessary.
“In fact, we have permission to launch from 39A. Therefore, I (Elon Musk approx. ed.) believe that in the worst case we will be delayed for six to eight months to build a service tower at Cape Canaveral and launch Starship from there.”
6-8 months is, of course, cool, but this figure is hard to believe. At least one Earth year will be needed to transfer (or build from 0) all the infrastructure that is necessary for the orbital flight of such a colossus as Starship. Although, on the other hand, the already existing logistics at the cosmodrome and proximity to production facilities may well allow meeting the so-called. Elon Time. In the end, Shuttles, Saturn-Vs and all SpaceX Falcons went into space from Launch Complex 39A.
This year, another super-heavy rocket, SLS (Senate Lunch System), should fly from the same launch complex. Its start, by the way, a few weeks before the current FAA decision, was also postponed a month ahead. This is quite an interesting coincidence, which leads to some bad thoughts in relation to Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Although, on the other hand, the developers of SLS can also be understood. They sawed a super-heavy rocket for more than 10 years and then, literally in 3-4 years, some African, with the help of sweaty Mexicans and several sheets of stainless steel, riveted a super-heavy rocket. Disorder. Moreover, this regularly torn "Baltika-7" can go into orbit before their dinosaur. And that doesn't fit at all.
So asking respected people to take a closer look at the ecological situation around Boca Chica is a sacred thing. Of course, having generously thanked the representatives of the commission for their concern for the ecology of the United States. And thanks to the time won, you can patch up all the jambs of the SLS, bring it to the launch pad and send it around the moon.
In general, given the new circumstances, I am no longer sure of anything and I think that the first orbital launch of Starship will take place in the summer at best, and next year at worst. Something like this.
Author: Sergey Kalyadin
bbabo.Net