SpaceX’s Starship won’t launch on 1st orbital test flight this month

SpaceX’s Starship vehicle will not make its initial orbital test flight in August. Instead, it is targeting a six-month window beginning September 1st. SpaceX still needs a launch license from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Starship has a first-stage booster and an upper-stage spacecraft, both powered by Raptor engines, and both designed to be reusable. But SpaceX still has work to do on these elements even if they receive approval. For its part, NASA is currently targeting the end of August for the launch of the Artemis 1 moon explorer.

Key Takeaways:

• SpaceX’s Starship has been approved for a launch window that starts in September.
• This license does not guarantee a launch, but allows for support vehicles to be there if a launch exists.
• While SpaceX won’t launch until September, there is a NASA launch scheduled for August.

“So a lot of work remains before SpaceX clears the duo for an orbital flight — meaning it was never likely that the mission would lift off in August, even if all the paperwork were already in order.”

Read more: https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-orbital-test-flight-launch-window

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