SpaceX has received the modified license No. VOL 23-129 Rev. 1, which can allow them to fly its Starship-Super Heavy vehicle for the second time. This got here shortly after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) confirmed the completion of their investigation into the brand new deluge system on the orbital launch site in Starbase.
FWS environmental investigation
On Oct. 19, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated an Endangered Species Act consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). During this investigation, the agency had 135 days to issue an amended biological opinion. From day one, the FWS did communicate that it didn’t expect to take the total 135 days to finish the investigation.
The investigation was began based on Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, which mandates the FWS to review a project should the impact of the project on the environment significantly change or if the quantity of change the previously issued license allowed is exceeded.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded its investigation into the Deluge System.
Conclusion: It just isn’t expected to vary the salinity of the present mud flats or reduce or modify the piping plover or red knot habitat.@NASASpaceflight
Link: https://t.co/N14jXgTRtq pic.twitter.com/Jc6c53B7EI— Adrian Beil (@BCCarCounters) November 15, 2023
In SpaceX’s case, this consultation was triggered due to a big modification to the launch infrastructure at Starbase with the implementation of a brand new deluge system on the orbital launch pad. Because the deluge system produced a lot water that may be released into the encircling environments and ecosystems, the FWS deemed the investigation obligatory.
Throughout the period, FWS staff were spotted multiple times at Starbase investigating the areas surrounding the orbital launch pad. After concluding the investigation, the FWS submitted the Final Biological and Conference Opinion (BCO) addendum on Nov. 17. The report addresses the impacted environmental baseline and consequences for SpaceX in the longer term.
The conclusion of the investigation mentions that deluge systems are a widely used system of rocket launch pads world wide and in addition that the usage of the deluge system will help mitigate the impacts of Starship-Super Heavy operations on surrounding environments by reducing sound and vibrations created during liftoff and by assisting in cooling and fire suppression.
Throughout the investigation, several species living within the Starbase area were mentioned. These species were considered, updated, and investigated to find out whether or not the deluge system would impact their life and surrounding ecosystems.
The report also demands that SpaceX use drone imagery to watch the visible extent of water in overland sheet flow discharges and vapor plumes and must summarize and report findings to the FAA and the FWS in each post-launch monitoring report.
Slow mo shot of Booster 9’s static fire today. We have been working on getting shots like this remotely- today @SeanKD_Photos arrange my camera and I operated all of it the way in which from NY!
More views of B9’s static fire here (but not this one bc i used to be too slow): https://t.co/X6RUzgWnnb pic.twitter.com/3aYfHIFhd1
— Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) August 25, 2023
While the agency considered the water that may reach the encircling landscape and the potential for vegetation changes, they don’t expect a big change to the general salinity of the present mud flats or other nature-related aspects.
An interesting side note mentioned within the report is that SpaceX expects each launch to be related to about two static fire engine tests that may use the deluge. This statistic, when combined with launch operations and other tests, means SpaceX expects to make use of the deluge system as much as 30 times per yr, which equates to 10 launches from Starbase in a single yr.
One other side note added that a planned additional orbital launch mount would come with a deluge system. Nevertheless, SpaceX still must finalize the system design before constructing a second launch pad at Starbase.
Lastly, the FWS mentioned the “Forward Heat Shield Interstage,” which is seemingly the regulatory name of the Hotstaging ring situated at the highest of the Super Heavy booster. On this note, the report details that the ring weighs about “20,000 kilos” and could be expandable for some missions, where it can be jettisoned between 30 and 400 kilometers offshore within the Gulf of Mexico.
The FAA’s safety review and launch license
Together with the environmental investigation performed by FWS, the FAA also researched the security aspect of Starship’s launch procedures. This investigation was led by SpaceX and detailed a listing of 63 items that may improve the possibilities of success in flight and reduce the probability of a serious malfunction that would endanger the health and safety of those affected by Starship operations. Once SpaceX had finalized the list, the FAA approved the steps and conducted a security review of the launch procedures. About two-thirds of the changes were related to changing hardware, while about one-third aimed to enhance program leadership and oversight.
![](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/irQOLEO.jpeg)
Booster 9 and its latest engine shielding. (Credit: Jack Beyer for NSF)
This list also includes the purge system of the Super Heavy Booster to cut back fires within the engine section during future launches and landings.
On Oct. 31, the FAA accomplished the security review. The FAA issued a press release that identified that this a part of the review looks on the applicant’s safety organization, systems safety processes, flight safety evaluation, and quantitive risk criteria for launch, reentry, and vehicle disposal.
The completion of the security review paved the way in which for the modification of License VOL 23-123, which now includes the permit to fly for a second time. Just like the primary launch license, this second launch license is barely viable for the launch of Starship’s second integrated flight test, with the license stating: “For the Orbital Flight Test 2 mission only, unless this license is modified to remove this term.”
This now only allows Starship to fly for a second time. The second flight might trigger one other mishap investigation, which might occur if SpaceX doesn’t fully reach all of its flight goals and potentially delay a 3rd license modification, which SpaceX would want to accumulate. The FAA again underlined that this license is concluded: “With no significant environmental changes.”
The Road to Launch
With the launch license now received, SpaceX confirmed a flight attempt for as early as Friday, Nov. 17. The corporate has since taken steps to restack the vehicle, which appears to be hardware-ready for flight two.
Targeting Friday, November 17 for Starship’s second flight test. A two-hour launch window opens at 7:00 a.m. CT → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK pic.twitter.com/4t3AfRke8h
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 15, 2023
The flight attempt will feature the upgraded hardware and the potential to perform a hot staging maneuver, wherein the upper stage will light before the primary stage entirely shuts down. This improves efficiency for the general flight.