The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the launch of SpaceX’s next Starship rocket, despite concerns raised by British officials about its potential impact on public safety. The decision came after publication and updates the story to reflect the FAA’s late Thursday announcement that it had granted permission for the launch.
SpaceX plans to fly the Starship 9 rocket over British territories in the Caribbean, including the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, where debris fell earlier this year after two of the company’s rockets exploded. The UK government has expressed concerns about the safety risks associated with the launch, particularly in light of previous accidents involving the Starship 7 and Starship 8 rockets.
The FAA has granted permission for the launch but has expanded the “Aircraft Hazard Area” to stretch from the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean, potentially affecting 175 flights. The agency said the changes were due to prior Starship problems and plans to reuse a previously launched Super Heavy booster rocket.
SpaceX has been working closely with US Government partners to address concerns about safety measures and has stated that it will conduct a thorough investigation into the previous explosion and implement corrective actions for future launches. However, critics have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest between Elon Musk’s role as CEO of SpaceX and his position as one of President Donald Trump’s closest advisers.
The FAA has also acknowledged concerns from pilots and academics about the growing danger posed by rocket launches to air traffic. The agency is reviewing its processes to see whether more can be done to prepare flight crews before a launch. Despite these efforts, some have expressed skepticism about the ability of the FAA to adequately address safety risks associated with SpaceX’s Starship program.
In response to concerns raised by the Air Line Pilots Association, the FAA said it would review its processes to see whether more can be done to prepare flight crews before a launch. However, the union has stated that any safety risk posed to commercial airline operations is unacceptable and calls for further action to address the issue.
Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/spacex-starship-explosions-uk-turks-caicos-faa-launches