It’s almost showtime for SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket
Enlarge / Starship is stacked and ready to fly, SpaceX says. (credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX announced on Friday that the company is targeting "mid-November" for the second flight test of the Super Heavy rocket and its Starship upper stage.
The company said the launch date is pending regulatory approval, which means that the Federal Aviation Administration and US Fish and Wildlife Service have yet to complete the environmental review process for the rocket and its launch site, which is surrounded by wetlands in South Texas.
Even so, the SpaceX announcement indicates that the company believes it may soon receive this regulatory approval. This is consistent with what sources have told Ars-that federal approval for the second launch of Starship is close to wrapping up.