The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday granted Elon Musk's SpaceX a license to launch the company's second test flight of its next-generation Starship and heavy-lift rocket from Texas, the agency said.
SpaceX said it was targeting Friday for a launch, saying a two-hour launch window opens at 7 a.m. Central Time (1300 GMT) and that local residents "may hear a loud noise" during the rocket's ascent toward space.
"The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements," the agency, which oversees commercial launch sites, said in a statement.
Though Musk, SpaceX's CEO and founder, hailed the Starship launch attempt as exceeding his expectations, it fell far short of its overall test objectives to reach space, complete nearly a full revolution around Earth and reenter the atmosphere for a splashdown off a Hawaiian coast.
SpaceX determined that an onboard fire prevented Starship - the rocket system's upper stage - from separating from its Super Heavy first stage booster as planned. The rocket's explosion was the result of an automated destruction command, which triggered some 40 seconds late.
The upcoming Starship flight will have the same test objectives as the first attempt, after SpaceX made hundreds of fixes to the rocket's design based on the April failure. The FAA required SpaceX to make dozens of fixes before allowing another Starship flight.
