In the realm of space exploration, SpaceX’s Starship program has taken a significant step forward as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has concluded its review of the company’s investigation into the second Starship launch in November. The regulator has accepted the “root causes and 17 corrective actions” identified by SpaceX, marking a crucial milestone in the journey towards the next launch.

While the investigation is now closed, SpaceX must diligently implement all the corrective actions and apply for a modified launch license before it can once again send Starship soaring into the cosmos. The FAA is carefully evaluating SpaceX’s license modification request and expects the company to submit additional required information before making a final determination.

The second orbital flight test of the towering Starship rocket, standing at nearly 400 feet tall, pushed the boundaries of space exploration. All 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster ignited successfully, propelling the spacecraft into the vast expanse above. The company also executed a spectacular “hot-stage separation,” a maneuver where the Starship upper stage ignited its engines to separate from the booster.

However, like the first test in April, the mission ended in a fiery explosion mid-air. In response, the FAA initiated a “mishap investigation,” a thorough examination led by SpaceX and reviewed by regulators. After the first test, SpaceX was directed to complete 63 corrective actions.

In this investigation, the company identified seven changes to the booster and 10 to the Starship vehicle. These modifications include hardware redesigns to enhance tank filtration and reduce slosh, updated thrust vector control system modeling, reevaluation of engine analyses, and updated engine control algorithms. Additionally, hardware redesigns and changes aim to increase robustness, reduce complexity, and eliminate pre-second engine cutoff propellant dumps.

In a post-launch postmortem, SpaceX revealed that the probable cause of the booster’s “rapid unscheduled disassembly” was a filter blockage in a Raptor engine. This engine failure led to a total loss of the booster. The Starship upper stage met its demise due to a propellant leak that ignited a fire, severing communication between the spacecraft’s computers and triggering the autonomous flight termination system.

SpaceX has already incorporated some of these hardware changes and design upgrades into the versions of the vehicle that will fly for the third orbital flight test. CEO Elon Musk hinted that this mission could take place as early as the second week of March.

With a fleet of Starships ready to take flight, SpaceX aims to complete the full mission profile. This includes the Super Heavy booster executing a “boost back burn” and performing a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, while Starship circumnavigates the globe and lands in the Pacific Ocean.

As SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the successful implementation of corrective actions and the granting of a modified launch license will pave the way for the next chapter in Starship’s journey. The ultimate goal is to create a fully reusable launch system capable of transporting satellites, payloads, crew, and cargo to various orbits and landing sites, opening up new frontiers in space exploration.