Starship is stacked and ready to make its second launch attempt
Enlarge / The Starship vehicle is stacked and ready to go for its second test flight. (credit: SpaceX)
On Tuesday, SpaceX stacked its Starship rocket on top of a Super Heavy booster in South Texas, beginning final preparations for a second launch attempt of the massive vehicle.
After the stacking operations were complete, SpaceX founder Elon Musk posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, that "Starship is ready to launch, awaiting FAA license approval."
That caveat is a big one because the Federal Aviation Administration is still reviewing paperwork and data from SpaceX about the first launch attempt of Starship in April 2023. That flight ended after about 90 seconds due to engine problems and other issues with the booster. The FAA has been reviewing data from that accident, including the environmental implications at the launch site and the delayed activation of the rocket's flight termination system.