SpaceX Gets Starship Launch License, Targets June 6 Flight

  • Starship is central to SpaceX’s satellite, moon mission plans
  • Previous test reached near orbit, but was lost on Earth return

People view the Starship Flight 3 Rocket a day before its scheduled launch in Brownsville, Texas, on March 13.

Photographer: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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SpaceX received the go-ahead from US air safety regulators to launch its massive Starship rocket on a fourth major test flight, as the Elon Musk-led company works to make the vehicle operational and ready for regular trips to space.

The Federal Aviation Administration granted SpaceX a launch license to move forward with the next test flight, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday. SpaceX now plans to launch Starship as early as June 6 from the company’s Starbase launch facility on the southern tip of Texas.