‘Fundamentally Broken’ – Elon Musk elevates the delay in approval of the spacecraft’s launch by the FAA on SpaceX

Elon Musk accused the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of having a “fundamentally broken regulatory structure” after failing to approve a SpaceX test launch – yet others warned that safety rules should not be taken at the slight.

Last week, Musk’s company SpaceX was expected to attempt the final flight of its prototype steel rocket known as the Starship, designed to one day take humans to Mars, from its site in trial from Boca Chica, Texas.

Last month saw the launch of the SN8 prototype, or ‘serial number 8’, which flew to Starship’s highest altitude, 12.5 kilometers, before returning to Earth – though it did failed to land, instead of exploding when it hit the ground.

This week’s flight of the 50-meter-high SN9 was to be largely the same as that of the SN8, albeit at 10 instead of 12.5 kilometers, and with a successful landing.

However, after strong winds sabotaged launch attempts on Monday, January 25, subsequent launch attempts later in the week were apparently halted by the FAA, which allows US launches.

This was despite SpaceX actually putting fuel into the rocket as it waited on the launch pad yesterday, Friday, January 29, possibly expecting to get FAA approval for the launch at the last. minute.

“Unlike its aerospace division, which is good, the FAA’s space division has a fundamentally broken regulatory structure,” Musk tweeted Thursday, Jan. 28 in response to the FAA saying it had postponed Thursday’s launch attempt.

“Their rules are intended for a handful of consumable launches per year from a few government facilities. According to these rules, humanity will never reach Mars. “

However, according to Joey Roulette’s report for The Verge, one of the reasons for the lack of approval was that the SN8 explosion in December during landing had in fact violated the terms of SpaceX’s launch license.

“The investigation into the so-called mishap was opened that week, focusing not only on the explosive landing, but on SpaceX’s refusal to stick to the terms of what the FAA has authorized,” Roulette wrote, although it is not clear which part of the test flight violated the FAA license. “

The FAA – which introduced a streamlined licensing process for launches in October 2020 – had also always assessed SpaceX’s license application for SN9, which apparently made some changes to SN8, when the company was hoping to launch.

“The FAA will continue to work with SpaceX to assess the additional information provided by the company as part of its request to change its launch license,” the FAA said in a statement. declaration.

“While we recognize the importance of acting quickly to foster growth and innovation in the commercial space, the FAA will not compromise its responsibility to protect public safety.

“We will only approve the change after we are satisfied that SpaceX has taken the necessary steps to comply with regulatory requirements.”

Some sided with Musk in the row. David Masten, technical director of California aerospace start-up Masten Space Systems, called FAA regulations “BS” on Twitter.

“Make no mistake, the regulations are not necessarily bad”, added. “But sometimes specific regulations are not suitable for a situation and may in fact promote [sic] rather than more secure. “

But others have gone to the defense of the FAA, particularly in a week that included the anniversary of the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986, which killed all seven astronauts on board.

“Starship is not a proven vehicle,” wrote Madison Telles, assurance engagement systems engineer for UK launch company Virgin Orbit.

“SpaceX has to comply with commercial licensing requirements like everyone else.

“If you value Musk’s opinion on the FAA / protecting public safety, you’re not much of a space enthusiast.”

For the moment, we do not know what will be the fallout from this conflict. SpaceX appears to be preparing for try another launch attempt from the Starship SN9 on Monday, February 1, although it’s unclear if it will have FAA approval by then.

It has even started rolling out its next prototype, SN10, for its test flight in the near future – captured in stunning images by photographers.

What is clear is that this episode is likely to spark tension between regulators and SpaceX fans, many of whom believe current licensing processes are insufficient to cope with SpaceX’s rapid tests on its Starship vehicle.

But in the wake of the anniversary of the Challenger disaster, others will say it’s important to remember that safety – especially when it comes to manned spaceflight – is paramount, regardless of high ambitions. from a company.

“The process can always be better, of course,” said Jared Zambrano-Stout, former chief of staff at the National Space Council.

“But I think it is a mistake on the part of the industry to publicly criticize the agency for working hard to enforce the laws and the authorities that Congress has given it to faithfully enforce.”