SpaceX has applied for permission to communicate with the spacecraft Starship to the FCC of the Federal Communications Commission. CEO Elon Musk also confirmed this.
On August 27th, SpaceX succeeded in a test to rise 150m using a starship tester. This measure can be said to be the next step in spacecraft development. In the test, the aircraft was launched to an altitude of 20 km and returned to the landing pad. In the meantime, the test machine’s orbit data has been provided directly to the US Telecommunications Intelligence Agency (NTIA), the US Air Force USAF, and the NASA.
Getting ready for flight of orbit-class Starship design https://t.co/CtXtq522ia
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 10, 2019
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Reportedly, SpaceX was able to obtain permission from the FAA to expand its launch facility prior to conducting the experiment. SpaceX is not hiding its starship construction work, hinting that Elon Musk will hold a completion event on September 28th. Based on this period, SpaceX launch tests are expected to be around mid-October.
It can be said that the development period is quite short if the Starship tester is launched after a month and a half after it appeared in August and tested. After the 150m injury test, there were reports that a 3km injury test and a 100km injury and landing test were planned in the final stage, but this plan has changed drastically and appears to be replacing the 3km test with an altitude test of 20km.
Given the original goal of Starship’s first commercial flight in 2021, it is necessary to prove that by this time it is possible to prepare a spacecraft and put cargo into orbit. Therefore, it can be said that there is little time left for the launch test. Related information can be found here .