Washington: SpaceX expects to receive federal regulatory approval to launch its fifth Starship Super Heavy rocket this weekend in Texas, the company said in a statement on Friday.
This test flight will be notable because it will be the company’s first ever attempt to catch Starship’s first-stage booster rocket on its return to the launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas. The launch tower has retractable arms that will be used to catch the rocket as it descends on the launch pad.
“Starship stacked ahead of its fifth flight test. We expect regulatory approval in time to fly on October 13,” the company said.
SpaceX is designing the Starship spacecraft and its Super Heavy booster rocket to be reusable for multi-planetary missions to the Moon and Mars.
The company previously noted that the catch attempt will only be possible if conditions are right. If SpaceX aborts the catch attempt at the launch tower, the Super Heavy booster will simulate a landing attempt in the Gulf of Mexico.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Sputnik on Tuesday that the company submitted new information in mid-August for its proposed fifth test flight. The FAA is continuing to review this information and will make a licensing determination once SpaceX has met all licensing requirements, the spokesperson added.
