Countdown to Liftoff: SpaceX's Starship 5 Awaits FAA Green Light

SpaceX's Starship 5 awaits a licensing decision from the FAA for an upcoming launch. Delays have drawn criticism from CEO Elon Musk, who disputes the necessity of certain regulatory hurdles. The FAA maintains that procedural compliance and timely analysis are crucial for approval, citing undisclosed legal violations by SpaceX.

The Federal Aviation Administration may soon approve a launch license for SpaceX's Starship 5, potentially greenlighting a flight test by mid-October. Initially, the FAA did not anticipate making this decision until November, as reported by insider sources to Reuters.

Controversy arose as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk criticized the FAA's delays, attributing them to unnecessary environmental analyses. Musk has called for FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker's resignation, claiming regulatory overreach and potential vendettas against the private aerospace company. Whitaker, however, pointed out that SpaceX's incomplete application, including a missing sonic boom analysis, was a key factor in the delay.

The wait continues as SpaceX issues VIP invitations with tentative dates, while the FAA insists all licensing requirements are yet to be met. Meanwhile, another SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, grounded over technical faults, is scheduled to embark on a European Space Agency mission soon, pending clearance.

(With inputs from agencies.)