Starship – Page 4 – Spaceflight Now

May 12, 2026

Breaking News

[ May 11, 2026 ] SpaceX launches intelligence-gathering satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office Falcon 9
[ May 8, 2026 ] Rescue mission for NASA’s $500 million space telescope passes key testing milestone Mission Reports
[ May 7, 2026 ] Rocket Lab announces five-launch Neutron deal as it continues aiming for late 2026 debut Mission Reports
[ May 5, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB Falcon 9
[ May 4, 2026 ] Lockheed Martin joins collaboration with Firefly Aerospace and Seagate for off-shore launches Alpha

SpaceX battles regulatory process that could hold up Starship test flight for months

October 18, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX leadership is heading to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to lobby for greater efficiency when it comes regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The company is hoping to streamline the process of issuing launch licenses for both Starship test flights and more routine Falcon 9 rocket missions.

FAA closes SpaceX-led Starship mishap investigation

September 12, 2023 Spaceflight Now

The FAA has closed the SpaceX-led mishap investigation following the first Starship Integrated Test Flight (IFT). SpaceX founder Elon Musk also published the checklist of 63 items to be completed before the company can apply for a launch license modification for IFT-2.

FAA concludes Starship mishap investigation, 63 corrective actions needed before second flight

September 8, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Friday the conclusion its mishap investigation into the first integrated test flight of SpaceX’s reusable Starship launch vehicle. It stressed SpaceX has 63 corrective actions that need to be taken before Starship can make a second test flight.

Musk declares Starship is ready for its second test flight, following stacking

September 6, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

Another SpaceX Starship rocket stands fully integrated against the South Texas horizon and company-founder Elon Musk said from his perspective, they’re ready to launch. However, the Federal Aviation Administration has not yet issued a launch licence.

SpaceX conducts static test fire of Starship Super Heavy Booster

August 6, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX fired up its Starship Super Heavy Booster 9 for a static test of its liquid methane-fueled Raptor rocket engines. The test was advertised to last “just under five seconds” but appeared to be cut short at 2.74 seconds. Four of the 33 Raptor engines were reported to have shut down prematurely.

SpaceX conducts six-engine test fire as it gears up for second Starship flight

June 27, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX conducted a six-engine static test fire on Monday of the Starship vehicle that will eventually be paired with a Super Heavy booster for the second test flight of the company’s fully-reusable launch system. The firing took place at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in south Texas.

Musk outlines major upgrades for Starship rocket

June 25, 2023 William Harwood

SpaceX will need another six weeks or so to finish implementing hundreds of changes to its Super Heavy-Starship rocket and the gargantuan booster’s Texas launch pad before it will be ready for a second attempt to reach orbit, company founder Elon Musk said Saturday.