SpaceX, the well-known aerospace manufacturer, is faced with a comprehensive set of tasks before it can once more launch its colossal rocket, following the termination of its debut in spectacular pyrotechnics. The directive was issued by federal regulators on a recent Friday.
The development followed the conclusion of the Federal Aviation Administration’s inquiry into the unsuccessful maiden voyage of Starship, the largest rocket in the world. According to the agency’s stipulations, SpaceX must accomplish 63 corrective measures and secure a revised FAA license for future launches.
Officials from the FAA pointed towards a multitude of complications that resulted in the disastrous explosion during the April launch. The chaos resulted in fragments of concrete and metal being catapulted for miles, leading to a massive cloud of disintegrated concrete spreading across an extensive range.
Elon Musk, the brains behind SpaceX, claimed in the immediate aftermath of the calamity that he has amplified the strength of the 394-foot rocket and fortified the launch pad. A redesigned pad currently houses the new Starship, bracing itself, like its predecessor, for an unoccupied flight.
The rocket’s original test flight was abruptly cut short as it spiraled out of control soon after lifting off from Boca Chica Beach, with the remains crashing into the Gulf of Mexico. According to SpaceX, fuel leaks during the rocket’s upward journey ignited fires at the rocket’s tail, severing ties with the primary flight computer and resulting in the catastrophic loss of control.
The company, in its statement, acknowledged that the ill-fated journey provided a multitude of learning opportunities.
NASA harbors aspirations of utilizing the Starship to land astronauts on the moon within the next few years. The long-term vision of Musk, however, is to create a fleet of Starships to transport supplies and passengers to Mars.
