The US Federal Aviation Administration has given SpaceX permission to conduct a test launch of its Starship superheavy rocket on March 3 at 6:30 p.m. local time. As IZ reports with reference to Channel 24, despite the fact that the investigation into the previous incident is still ongoing, Elon Musk's company has received the green light for a new flight. The launch broadcast will be available on the official SpaceX page on the X social network.
The Super Heavy booster is to launch a modified version of the Starship with a mock-up payload into orbit. The main goal of the eighth test flight is to test the booster's capture mechanisms and a controlled ocean splashdown. The flight is to follow the previous launch plan, as some of the tasks were not completed then due to an accident.
During a previous flight, Starship exploded due to a leak in a fuel line. SpaceX has identified the cause of the accident and promises to take measures to avoid similar incidents in the future. On board the ship will be mock-ups of Starlink satellites, which are planned to be deployed in space before splashing down in the Indian Ocean. This launch will be an important step in certifying the rocket for future missions.
Recall that we previously wrote that scientists have created a system for extracting drinking water from the air.
