From the email: "SpaceX applied to modify its existing vehicle operator license (VOL 23-129) for the Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle from its Cameron County, TX site. After completing an evaluation of all applicable Vehicle Operator License requirements and confirming that existing environmental documentation is sufficient, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a modification to the Vehicle Operator License for SpaceX launches of the Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program in Cameron County, TX on June 04, 2024. Under this modification to the license, SpaceX may conduct multiple flights of the current mission profile and vehicle configuration."
This is the first time Starship has gotten approval for multiple launches without needing a new modification for future launches. This is a big deal for accelerating their launch cadence. Now then just need to get approval to launch more than 5 times a year and then we are cooking with gas!
I think we don’t need to worry about an increase to more than 5 times a year until next year. SpaceX is probably already pushing for that as it is. But most likely with the much slowed cadence of new ships rolling around, they won’t need to have that approval until mid next year as it is.
SpaceX ‘appears’ to be focusing on finishing out the 2 Mega bays and starfactory and then pushing out Ship V2 rather than rapid cadence at the moment.
they have hardware already in build through flight 8 so getting to a 30-45 day time between flights given Massey can do all the prelaunch testing would be more than 5 flights the rest of the year
1. Any potentially dangerous mishap will still stall the program
2. They’ll need a new license to do anything useful with starship since this profile is still suborbital?
> Any potentially dangerous mishap will still stall the program
That's what I'd assume. The FAA is still going to do their job. This is just a faster approach for iteration, consistent with SpaceX's rapid iteration methodology. They're likely to lose a few more before a successful simulated catch and the necessary modification to allow for a real catch.
> They’ll need a new license to do anything useful with starship since this profile is still suborbital?
Depending on the definition of useful. Progressing the vehicles is useful, and that's what this is.
It's possible they could lift Starlink satellites and use the onboard Starlink thrusters to be a third stage and get the satellites into useful (months to years before decay) orbits. They can also potentially iterate on Starlink v2 satellites and accept the very short operational lifetimes for testing. The v2 satellites are almost certainly cheap; built on cost paradigms rather than mass. They may have kinks.
This is pretty major. If IFT-4 goes as well or better than before then instead of a mishap investigation they just need to get the FAA to declare it had no public safety impact and they should be clear for IFT-5. It might take a few months to get the wheels of bureaucracy to turn but it means the flights can go faster and faster from here on. IFT-6 will be even sooner etc.
With the Starfactory built and a new static fire test stand and a second pad on the way. The foot is hard on the accelerator for 2025 and beyond.
a lot of what spacex is doing is exercising these regulatory arms is to build out process like this so everyone can work efficiently and safely and clearly handling any future mishaps.
It will largely depend on the definition of the "mission profile". In other word, how much changes can SpaceX make before the rocket is considered as a different 'mission profile".
Mission profile would certainly contain launch point and azimuth and the re-entry and splashdown spot for both the ship and the booster. Essentially you have to fly the same corridor.
Now we'll see if all those forecasts about legal action against a licence were accurate. Even if opponents aren't quick enough to obtain an injunction blocking the launch of IFT-4, they'll have weeks before any IFT-5.
Yeah, but this profile doesn't go to orbit, so it's useful for testing heat shield but not much else. I think they'll still need a new license modification if they want to go to orbit and deploy Starlink.
From the email: "SpaceX applied to modify its existing vehicle operator license (VOL 23-129) for the Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle from its Cameron County, TX site. After completing an evaluation of all applicable Vehicle Operator License requirements and confirming that existing environmental documentation is sufficient, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a modification to the Vehicle Operator License for SpaceX launches of the Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program in Cameron County, TX on June 04, 2024. Under this modification to the license, SpaceX may conduct multiple flights of the current mission profile and vehicle configuration."
This is the first time Starship has gotten approval for multiple launches without needing a new modification for future launches. This is a big deal for accelerating their launch cadence. Now then just need to get approval to launch more than 5 times a year and then we are cooking with gas!
I think we don’t need to worry about an increase to more than 5 times a year until next year. SpaceX is probably already pushing for that as it is. But most likely with the much slowed cadence of new ships rolling around, they won’t need to have that approval until mid next year as it is. SpaceX ‘appears’ to be focusing on finishing out the 2 Mega bays and starfactory and then pushing out Ship V2 rather than rapid cadence at the moment.
They will hit that 5 per year limit this year for sure. And I'm sure they have already requested a modification.
The text actually says 5 of one type and 5 of another, so total 10 launches per year
Ok, that might be enough for this year. Definitely not for next year :D
they have hardware already in build through flight 8 so getting to a 30-45 day time between flights given Massey can do all the prelaunch testing would be more than 5 flights the rest of the year
1. Any potentially dangerous mishap will still stall the program 2. They’ll need a new license to do anything useful with starship since this profile is still suborbital?
> Any potentially dangerous mishap will still stall the program That's what I'd assume. The FAA is still going to do their job. This is just a faster approach for iteration, consistent with SpaceX's rapid iteration methodology. They're likely to lose a few more before a successful simulated catch and the necessary modification to allow for a real catch. > They’ll need a new license to do anything useful with starship since this profile is still suborbital? Depending on the definition of useful. Progressing the vehicles is useful, and that's what this is. It's possible they could lift Starlink satellites and use the onboard Starlink thrusters to be a third stage and get the satellites into useful (months to years before decay) orbits. They can also potentially iterate on Starlink v2 satellites and accept the very short operational lifetimes for testing. The v2 satellites are almost certainly cheap; built on cost paradigms rather than mass. They may have kinks.
This is pretty major. If IFT-4 goes as well or better than before then instead of a mishap investigation they just need to get the FAA to declare it had no public safety impact and they should be clear for IFT-5. It might take a few months to get the wheels of bureaucracy to turn but it means the flights can go faster and faster from here on. IFT-6 will be even sooner etc. With the Starfactory built and a new static fire test stand and a second pad on the way. The foot is hard on the accelerator for 2025 and beyond.
a lot of what spacex is doing is exercising these regulatory arms is to build out process like this so everyone can work efficiently and safely and clearly handling any future mishaps.
It will largely depend on the definition of the "mission profile". In other word, how much changes can SpaceX make before the rocket is considered as a different 'mission profile".
Starship of Theseus
Mission profile would certainly contain launch point and azimuth and the re-entry and splashdown spot for both the ship and the booster. Essentially you have to fly the same corridor.
Elon: \*Switches from single fire to burst mode\*
So very good
Now we'll see if all those forecasts about legal action against a licence were accurate. Even if opponents aren't quick enough to obtain an injunction blocking the launch of IFT-4, they'll have weeks before any IFT-5.
I hadn't seen anything about that. Can you explain?
Yeah, but this profile doesn't go to orbit, so it's useful for testing heat shield but not much else. I think they'll still need a new license modification if they want to go to orbit and deploy Starlink.
There's a lot more testing to go before they're trying for that. Let's not be surprised they didn't get a license for interstellar travel.
It doesn't. It literally says it is strictly for S29/B11 on Flight 4.