Elon Musk beats FAA for delaying SpaceX’s first Starship SN9 flight test due to safety concerns

SpaceX fans in the US and around the world have adapted to see the company launch the Starship Serial Number 9 (SN9) prototype on Thursday for its first test flight, but all that was seen was the massive rocket that stood completely still on the launch pad. .

Moments later, CEO Elon Musk criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Twitter for its space launch rules – suggesting that SpaceX did not receive the green light for the flight test.

“Unlike its aircraft division, which is fine, the FAA space division has a fundamentally broken regulatory structure,” Musk wrote.

“Their rules are meant for a handful of consumable releases a year from several government facilities. According to these rules, humanity will never reach Mars.

The FAA remained silent as Musk conveyed his frustrations online, but the division told DailyMail.com: “We will continue to work with SpaceX to resolve the remaining security issues before approving the next test flight.”

Although not mentioned by the FAA, the delay may be due to Starship SN8’s previous SpaceX test flight that flew about seven miles in the air and then exploded onto the launch pad in what Musk called a “wonderful test.”

Regardless, SpaceX will need FAA approval before sending SN9 into the sky, but the company said it is looking for a new test on Monday.

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Starship SN9 has been waiting on the launch pad all week for its first test flight, which will see it soar six miles in the air and perform an aerodynamic descent and flip maneuver – the same tricks performed by its SN8 predecessor in December.

On Thursday, SpaceX powered SN9 for the feat and a few moments later fired the mission.

Then, on Friday morning, the space crew began preparations for the hops and residents living around the test facility evacuated the area, which is necessary during the high-altitude tests.

An FAA spokesman told DailyMail.com in an email: “The FAA will continue to work with SpaceX to evaluate the additional information provided by the company as part of its application to amend the launch license.

“While recognizing the importance of rapid movement to stimulate growth and innovation in the commercial space, the FAA will not compromise its responsibility to protect public safety.”

“We will only approve the change after we are convinced that SpaceX has taken the necessary steps to comply with regulatory requirements. ‘

SpaceX has been discussing the launch of SN9 since early January, but it looks like the mission is on hold until the company and the FAA can reach an agreement – and Musk’s tweet wouldn’t have helped the cause.

The FAA may have such concerns after the SN8 exploded on the launch pad in December.

The giant rocket took off from the Boca Chica, Texas test facility at 5:45 p.m. ET on December 9, starting its Raptor engines and soaring into the sky to reach its goal of reaching an altitude of 7.8 miles (41,000 feet).

The prototype ascent of the spacecraft took about six minutes before the engines stopped and the SN8 began its journey back to the launch pad.

People sat on the edge of their seats as the rocket approached the ground – wondering if Musk’s prediction of a crash landing would prove correct.

When SN8 finally hit, it ignited in flames – and once the fire and smoke cleared, there was only a pile of debris left over from what was left of the ship’s nose cone.

However, Musk considered the launch a success – saying that the prototype, even if it was destroyed, gathered a series of data that will bring SpaceX one step closer to sending humans to Mars aboard the rocket.