Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: SpaceX

The launch of SpaceX’s Starship OFT-3 has been given a go by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as cited in a FAA License Modification Approval dated March 13, 2024.

“The FAA is authorizing the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Orbital Flight Test 3 (OFT-3) launch. The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements,” stated the FAA.

This flight – targeted for March 14 – was one part of the FAA’s license modification evaluation, a “Tiered Environmental Assessment” for the SpaceX Starship sortie and its Indian Ocean landing.

Record of decision

The FAA has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact Record of Decision.

This license applies to all phases of the proposed OFT-3 operation, the FAA notes in a statement. “This includes preflight preparations and liftoff from Texas, the water landing of the Super Heavy booster in the Gulf of Mexico, and the water landing of the Starship vehicle in the Indian Ocean.”

As posted by SpaceX, the third flight test of Starship is targeted to launch Thursday, March 14. The 110-minute test window opens at 7:00 a.m. Central Time.

A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 30 minutes before liftoff, and can be viewed via SpaceX and on X @SpaceX.

Starship departure in earlier test flight. Image credit: SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Ambitious objectives

“As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to stay tuned to our X account for updates,” reports SpaceX.

With two Starship tests under its belt, SpaceX explains that the third flight test “aims to build on what we’ve learned from previous flights while attempting a number of ambitious objectives.”

Those include:

— successful ascent burn of both stages

— opening and closing Starship’s payload door

— a propellant transfer demonstration during the upper stage’s coast phase

— the first ever re-light of a Raptor engine while in space

— a controlled reentry of Starship.

Image credit: SpaceX

New trajectory

As explained by SpaceX, this Starship flight will also fly a new trajectory, with the vehicle targeted to splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

“This new flight path enables us to attempt new techniques like in-space engine burns while maximizing public safety,” SpaceX adds.

For live coverage, go to: https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-3