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SpaceX's next-generation launch vehicle aims to replace the company's existing main force-the "Falcon" rocket lineup. Currently, the launch vehicle is being reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for testing and launch operations. The new rocket, called the "Starship", uses a different propulsion system from the "Falcon 9" and "Falcon Heavy", and will be the company’s plan to land on the surface of Mars. backbone.
Starship Super Heavy review is released as SpaceX is preparing for the test flight of the first-stage booster
The agency recently announced relevant details on its website. The FAA stated on its website that SpaceX has informed the agency that the company plans to launch orbital and suborbital spacecraft. SpaceX’s Starship vehicle platform consists of two components-the first-level Super Heavy booster and the second-level manned/cargo spacecraft, also known as Starship.
As part of the review, the FAA will determine whether the proposed Super Heavy and Starship launches comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1970 to ensure that the proposed operation will not cause damage to the environment, and also meet the requirements of the Act . The assessment generally involves 12 different types of impact assessments from launch and re-entry operations, ranging from socio-economic impacts to air quality, storage and handling of hazardous substances, light emissions and water resources. Once completed, the agency will issue an Environmental Assessment (EA) to measure SpaceX's performance in the aforementioned standards.
's review was due to the FAA's original environmental impact statement (EIS) on the Boca Chica launch site that did not take into account the company's Starship test and launch will expand the scope of operations. In 2014, EIS evaluated the impact of SpaceX launching Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles from Texas. Considering that Starship not only uses different propellants but also has higher thrust, the agency concluded that- -Need to be updated and evaluated.
When the FAA announces this news, SpaceX is trying to advance the second half of the process of the testing framework it provides to regulators
It is understood that the first two stages will determine the standards that SpaceX must submit to the FAA for follow-up review, and then the agency It will be determined whether the parameters of the 100-kilometer Starship test flight in the third phase meet the regulatory requirements.
However, through an appendix submitted to the agency in November last year, SpaceX quickly cancelled its plan to conduct a 100-kilometer test. The company updated a new test framework to separate the two different (Mk1 and Mk2) Starship prototypes into two static flames and three medium jumps (up to 30 kilometers in height). A few weeks after the appendix was released, SpaceX renamed the Starship prototype from "Mk" to "SN".
In this year, SpaceX has performed three full-duration Starship prototype static ignitions and two medium-sized jumps. Before the FAA decided to adopt the new environmental impact information system, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said at the end of August that his company could launch a super-heavy rocket last month, and announced that SpaceX would start building rockets shortly thereafter. Launch the prototype.
's third Starship jump of this year is expected to happen soon-perhaps later this month, it will be the first spacecraft to use three Raptor engines. Musk said that the use of the SN8 prototype to start the jump, this will be Starship's first 15-kilometer jump. Last September, SpaceX applied for (and was approved) to the FCC for the frequency allocation for this test. A few weeks later, Musk announced that the jump might take place in the next month.
If this company succeeds in this regard, it will take a successful step in the development of the launch vehicle lineup. Given that the FAA has also confirmed that SpaceX is cooperating with the FAA on the new EA, the company should quickly complete the key development work of Starship before the end of next year. This will roughly fit MuskThe expected timetable for the interstellar spacecraft.
Frontier of Science and Technology
TechEdge
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