A delay in the FAA's licensing process means SpaceX won't be able to launch its next-generation Starship rocket in late January as hoped.
There’s a lot resting on Starship, SpaceX’s next-generation rocket, which when it finally gets off the ground will become the most powerful space vehicle ever to fly.
But precisely when its first orbital launch will take place is still unclear after the Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday that it’s unable to meet the December 31 deadline for the completion of an environmental review that would clear the way for launches at SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility in Texas.
As part of its review, the FAA is evaluating various public safety issues that include “overflight of populated areas and payload contents; national security or foreign policy concerns; insurance requirements for the launch operator; and potential environmental impact,” according to its website. The delay will come as a blow to SpaceX, which is keen to move forward with the development of Starship following a number of high-altitude test flights of varying success in 2021.