FAA approval for SpaceX's Starship launch debut is imminent.
The senior director of the company expects the FAA to grant a license for the first launch of the next-generation Starship rocket in the very near future. A few weeks ago, CEO Musk said that a March launch attempt was highly likely, and that February was out of reach. According to Henry, the company still needs an FAA launch license but expects that in the "very near future." Tells the audience to expect some "must-see TV" sometime in March.
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On January 23rd, ship 24 and Super Heavy Booster 7 were filled with around 5000 tons of propellant and completed their first full wet dress rehearsal, which was a simulation of a launch attempt up to the moment before engine ignition. Two and a half weeks later, the company attempted to ignite all of the engines. The most powerful static fire test in the history of rocketry was produced by 31 engines. If it had lifted off with 31 of 33 engines, the test would have been a success, according to Musk.
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The tests were a full wet dress rehearsal and a full static fire just a few weeks apart. The test was a huge success for the company. Raptors were started on the first attempt at a 33 engine test. The booster was as tall as an entire two-stage Falcon 9 rocket and then safely drained its tanks.
No apparent damage was done to the booster, and all 33 of them are healthy enough to stay on the booster for the first launch attempt. Gary Henry confirmed on February 21st that Super Heavy Booster 7 and the launch pad that supported its record-breaking static fire test are in good shape. The flat concrete directly below the pad appeared to survive almost eight million pounds of thrust and brutal heat with only minor spalling and damage. The concrete under the mount may eventually be replaced with the same high-temperature Fondag concrete that was added.
It is possible that the Orbital Launch Mount will be ready to launch in the near future if it is in good shape. The second outer shield section has a door added. Installation of that system and building a sufficiently massive water supply will take months, and would likely preclude a March launch attempt, as well as the installation of a final layer of shielding on Starbase's orbital launch mount. The task will likely need to be completed before the launch attempt and could take a couple weeks.
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The license to launch may be the biggest source of uncertainty for the debut of Starship. Gary Henry and Christian Davenport have said that if there are no major hurdles standing in the way of the FAA license, Starship could be ready to launch in a matter of weeks.