SpaceX expecting a major decision on Starship this week

The FAA is expected to give good news this week regarding the first launch of the next-generation Starship rocket.

The FAA is expected to complete its environmental review by the end of the year, which will determine if the first flight of the Starship can take place from the company's Star facility.

The PEA looks into any issues linked to national security and any potential environmental impact, as well as whether a proposed launch endangers public safety.

The huge response to the administration's assessment procedure is one of the reasons for the delays.

The FAA has pushed the completion date several times, stating that it simply needed more time to finish. The new completion date was set at the end of April.

The FAA said last month that it couldn't meet the April 29 deadline for completing the review of the Final PEA. Before the FAA can issue the Final PEA, all consultations have to be completed.

If the FAA gives the green light for the launch from Boca Chica, the Starship vehicle, which comprises the upper stage and Super Heavy first stage, could embark on its first orbital test flight in the next month or two.

If the FAA rejects the request from the site, the Starship will likely be launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Adding a further delay to the launch would mean transporting the vehicle a distance of around 1,000 miles.

When it gets off the ground, the Starship will be the most powerful rocket ever launched. The system will be used to send astronauts to the moon, Mars, and possibly beyond.

Ahead of the FAA's imminent decision, the latest prototype of the Starship upper stage was rolled out to the Starbase launchpad on Saturday.

Starship 24 rolls out to the pad at Starbase pic.twitter.com/PGh6FY6x8w

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 27, 2022

The FAA's decision is expected to be made on Tuesday, May 31, so be sure to check back. Unless there is another delay.

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