Starship Flight Test 2

Starship Flight Test 2
Starship Flight Test 2 during Hot Staging
Type	Integrated, near orbital flight test
Status	Launched on 18 November 2023 @7 a.m. CDT
Engines	B9: 13 RC, 20 RB; S25: 3 Rvac, 3 RC
Flight info
Launch dates	18 November 2023
Duration	00:08:06
Outcome	Partial success (RUD)
Starship development
Next	Starship Flight 3
Previous	Starship Flight 1
See also	B9, S25, Starship 9/25

Starship Flight Test 2 (unofficially IFT-2, or Integrated Flight Test 2), was the second test flight of Super Heavy and Starship to near orbit that took place on November 18, 2023. Booster 9 and Ship 25 were chosen to fly in this test flight. The full stack lifted off with 33 engines running and survived Hot Staging, a new maneuver for this flight. During B9's boost back burn, multiple engines shutdown and Booster 9 was terminated 90 km over the Gulf of Mexico.

Meanwhile, Ship 25 became the first Starship to reach space, nearly completing its 6-engine burn. To simulate how much propellant Starship would have needed during an operational flight, extra propellant was loaded which had to be vented out of the tank before reentry. During this process, a leak developed that caused fires, which ultimately resulted in a loss of communication between the forward and aft flight computers, triggering a full shutdown of all 6 engines. This was detected as a mission rule violation by the autonomous flight safety system leading to the detonation of the Automated Flight Termination System (AFTS) at an altitude of 148 km and a speed of over 24000 km/h. Unlike OFT-1, no severe damage was apparent on the orbital launch mount after the launch.

Name

The community often uses the name OFT-2 (Orbital Flight Test), knowing that Starship will not reach full orbit on its test flight. This is the reason that SpaceX calls it IFT-2 (Integrated Flight Test) to difference it from atmospheric flights.

Status

IFT-2 took place 18 November 2023.

On 4 August 2023, Elon Musk shared his expectations of this flight as B9 conducted a spin prime test for verification: "Preparing for next Starship flight! This time, I think we have ~50% probability of reaching orbital velocity, however even getting to stage separation would be a win".

On 8 September 2023, the FAA announced that the mishap investigation following IFT-1 was closed. As a result, SpaceX needs/needed to work 63 corrective actions such as launch infrastructure and vehicle upgrades.

On 31 October 2023, the FAA has finished its safety review for the second flight of Starship.

On 3 November 2023, SpaceX said on X: "The second flight test of a fully integrated Starship could launch as soon as mid-November, pending regulatory approval"

Timeline of Flight

Countdown to liftoff

• 02:00:00 SpaceX Flight Director conducts poll and verifies GO for propellant load
• 01:37:00 Booster LOX (Liquid Oxygen) load underway
• 01:37:00 Booster fuel load (liquid methane) underway
• 01:17:00 Ship fuel load (liquid methane) underway
• 01:13:00 Ship LOX load underway
• 00:19:40 Raptor begins engine chill on booster and ship
• 00:00:10 Flame deflector activation
• 00:00:03 Raptor ignition sequence begins
• 00:00:00 Excitement guaranteed

Timeline after liftoff

• 00:00:02 Liftoff
• 00:00:52 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
• 00:02:39 MECO (most engines cut off)
• 00:02:41 Hot-staging (Starship Raptor ignition and stage separation)
• 00:02:53 Booster boostback burn startup
• 00:03:47 Booster boostback burn shutdown
• 00:06:18 Booster is transonic
• 00:06:30 Booster landing burn startup
• 00:06:48 Booster landing burn shutdown
• 00:08:33 Starship engine cutoff
• 01:17:21 Starship entry
• 1:28:43 Starship is transonic
• 1:30:00 An exciting landing!

Post-Launch announcements

26 June 2024 - New Footage

IFT-2: New lift off footage released, taken by US Customs and Border Patrol owned tethered aerostat "Argos" stationed at SPI.

26 February 2024 - Mishap investigation closed

Letter from FAA to SpaceX

The FAA closed the mishap investigation and SpaceX posted an update about the second flight of Starship. In this update SpaceX revealed that the explosion of B9 happened because multiple engines started shutting down until one engine exploded which led to the RUD of the Booster. The most likely cause of the RUD was because of a filter blockage where liquid oxygen is supplied to the engines, leading to a loss of inlet pressure in engine oxidizer turbopumps that eventually resulted in one engine failing in a way that resulted in loss of the vehicle. SpaceX had since implemented hardware changes inside future booster oxidizer tanks to improve propellant filtration capabilites and refined operations to increase reliability.

For the Ship, SpaceX had loaded extra propellant to gather data representative of future payload deploy missions. They needed to vent this extra liquid oxygen before reentry to meet required propellant mass targets at splashdown. A leak in the aft section of the spacecraft that developed when the liquid oxygen vent was initiated resulted in a combustion event and subsequent fires that led to a loss of communication between the spacecraft's flight computers. This resulted in a commanded shut down of all six engines prior to completion of the ascent burn, followed by the Autonomous Flight Safety System detecting a mission rule violation and activating the flight termination system, leading to vehicle breakup. The flight test's conclusion came when the spacecraft was at an altitude of ~150 km and a velocity of ~24'000 km/h.

The water-cooled flame deflector and other pad upgrades made after Starship's first flight test performed as expected, requiring minimal post-launch work to be ready for vehicle tests and the next integrated flight test.

SpaceX has identified, and the FAA accepted, the root causes and 17 corrective actions in the mishap report. Seven corrective actions were identified for the booster including vehicle hardware redesigns, updated control system modelling, reevaluation of engine analyses based on OFT-2 flight data, and updated engine control algorithms. Ten corrective actions were identified for the ship including vehicle hardware redesigns, operational changes, flammability analysis updates, installation of additional fire protection, and guidance and modelling updates.

08 February 2024

IFT-2 WB-57 footage released via a NASA FOIA (here)

23 January 2024

FAA to Bruce Baur: An FAA spokesperson confirms that SpaceX has submitted its mishap investigation report for agency review. Flight 3 launch license modification is also in the works.

12 January 2024

SpaceX update by Elon Musk, main Starship points:

• ETVC saved a lot of dry mass
• With some upgrades down the road, Starship will produce 20M lbf of thrust, 3x the thrust of Saturn V
• Water pressure from the water cooled steel plate would destroy the rocket if pointed straight up
• Starship will launch from one tower while the other is upgraded
• Plans to send 200t to orbit while being fully reusable
• Ship 25 was lost because of a fire during a LOX dump, performed to get rid of the LOX they wouldn't have if they were launching a payload
• Block 2 Ship will be more reliable and have better endurance
• V3 Ship will be stretched, pushing the full stack height to 140m - 150m tall
• Flight 3 will go to orbit, test the pez door, test an in-space engine burn from the header tank to prove they can reliably deorbit, and perform a tipping point header to main propellant transfer
• New multi segment pez door design revealed
• Starlink deployment by the end of the year
• Want solve Ship to Ship docking by the end of this year but more likely by the end of next year

21 December 2023

Video of Kathy Lueder's speech at the SpaceX Post Launch Conference has been released. With that we've been able to confirm and deny some facts from the news article:

• SpaceX is indeed planning to add another Pad at Starbase.
  • "Looking at adding another pad, because with the cadence we'd like to have getting that second pad ready was gonna be another goal we have for this year"
• Kathy has not said that engine testing will be happening at Massey's, only that they're moving more of their testing there.
  • "Using our Massey's test site [...] what it allows us to do is keep our test operations at the Massey's test site and away from the beach. [...] We're moving more of our testing over there"
• Booster 9 RUD was, according to Kathy, a deliberate termination. RUD of Ship 25 was not mentioned.
  • "After the second Starship flight we separated and then terminated the first stage"
• SpaceX is submitting applications for Flight 3 & 4.
  • "Submitting for our flight 3 and flight 4 applications"

13 December 2023

Kathy Lueders update in Brownsville:

• SpaceX is in the process of submitting flight approvals and amendments for flights #3 and #4
• They will continue to monitor sound levels especially during low cloud cover and higher winds
• Both Starship and Booster RUD likely due to AFTS and they are working on the mishap investigation to conclude why
• Hoping to start catching boosters sometime in 2024
• Confirmed plans of second tower at Starbase and moving engine testing to Massey
• Planning for multiple flights in 2024
• Says they are aiming for 1Q 2024 for IFT-3, says unlikely to achieve December despite Elon aspirations

07 December 2023

SpaceX released the recap video and confirmed that Ship 28 and Booster 10 (Starship 10/28) will take flight on IFT-3.

21 November 2023

Official conclusion by SpaceX:

Starship returned to integrated flight testing with its second launch from Starbase in Texas. While it didn't happen in a lab or on a test stand, it was absolutely a test. What we did with this second flight will provide invaluable data to continue rapidly developing Starship.

On November 18, 2023, Starship successfully lifted off at 7:02 a.m. CT from Starbase in Texas and achieved a number of major milestones:

• All 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster started up successfully and, for the first time, completed a full-duration burn during ascent.

• Starship executed a successful hot-stage separation, powering down all but three of Super Heavy's Raptor engines and successfully igniting the six second stage Raptor engines before separating the vehicles. This was the first time this technique has been done successfully with a vehicle of this size.

• Following separation, the Super Heavy booster successfully completed its flip maneuver and initiated the boostback burn before it experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly. The vehicle breakup occurred more than three and a half minutes into the flight at an altitude of ~90 km over the Gulf of Mexico.

• Starship's six second stage Raptor engines all started successfully and powered the vehicle to an altitude of ~150 km and a velocity of ~24,000 km/h, becoming the first Starship to reach outer space and nearly completing its full-duration burn.

• The flight test's conclusion came when telemetry was lost near the end of second stage burn prior to engine cutoff after more than eight minutes of flight. The team verified a safe command destruct was appropriately triggered based on available vehicle performance data.

• The water-cooled flame deflector and other pad upgrades performed as expected, requiring minimal post-launch work to be ready for upcoming vehicle tests and the next integrated flight test.

With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and this flight test will help us improve Starship's reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multiplanetary. Data review is ongoing as we look for improvements to make for the next flight. The team at Starbase is already working final preparations on the vehicles slated for use in Starship's third flight test, with Ship and Booster static fires coming up next.

Thank you to our customers, Cameron County, spaceflight fans, and the wider community for the continued support and encouragement. And congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting second flight test of Starship!

19 November 2023

Elon Musk: "Just inspected the Starship launch pad and it is in great condition! No refurbishment needed to the water-cooled steel plate for next launch. Congrats to @Spacex team & contractors for engineering & building such a robust system so rapidly!"

Damage inspection after IFT-2

18 November 2023

Astronomy Live: S25 payload bay appears to have survived the explosion

Elon Musk: "Launch pad is in great shape"

Jonathan McDowell: NOAA weather radar data showing debris cloud

AIAA Statement: "Congratulations to the SpaceX team on today’s test flight of Starship from Starbase, Texas. [...]"

Pictures of launch site after launch by Starship Gazer and John Kraus showed only minor damage; the OLS tank farm water storage tanks shows a big indentation

FAA: "This information is preliminary and subject to change: A mishap occurred during the @SpaceX Starship OFT-2 launch from Boca Chica, Texas, on Saturday, Nov. 18. The anomaly resulted in a loss of the vehicle. No injuries or public property damage have been reported."; "The FAA will oversee the @SpaceX-led mishap investigation to ensure SpaceX complies with its FAA-approved mishap investigation plan and other regulatory requirements."

Jim Free: "Each test represents a step closer to putting the first woman on the Moon with the #Artemis III Starship human landing system. Looking forward to seeing what can be learned to move on to the next milestone."

Bill Nelson: "Congrats to the teams who made progress on today’s flight test. Spaceflight is a bold adventure demanding a can-do spirit and daring innovation. Today’s test is an opportunity to learn—then fly again. Together @NASA and @SpaceX will return humanity to the Moon, Mars & beyond."

18 November 2023 - Launch

Tracking camera footage of Super Heavy MECO (most engines cut off) as 30 of the booster's 33 Raptor engines shut down in preparation for hot-staging

Announcments

-SpaceX: All systems and weather are go for the second integrated flight test of Starship. Today's webcast will go live ~35 minutes ahead of liftoff (announcement at T-02:00:00)

-SpaceX 05:25: Propellant load of the Super Heavy booster is underway (T-01:37:00)

-SpaceX 05:45: Propellant load of Starship's upper stage is now underway (T-01:17:00)

-SpaceX: "Today’s flight test will feature a new stage separation method on Starship called hot-staging"

-SpaceX: "Starship successfully lifted off under the power of all 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster and made it through stage separation"

-SpaceX: "The booster experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly shortly after stage separation while Starship's engines fired for several minutes on its way to space"

-SpaceX: "With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multiplanetary"

Timeline

Timeline according to NSF, LabPadre and Everyday Astronaut:

17 November:

• 15:33 PA: "Attention all personnel, the orbital pad deck is now closed for launch checkouts"
• 16:52 FIREX test
• 17:06 Marine assets started to prepare for IFT-2
• 17:06 Flap test
• 17:24 B9 grid fins tested
• 17:48 Polaris Program crew performed a Starbase flyower
• 19:24 One of NASA's WB-57s on its way to Starbase
• 22:51 Boca Chica Village was evacuated
• 23:41 Road Closed

18 November

• 01:38 Boca Chica Beach closed
• 01:38 OV-10 Bronco helping to clear marine and airspace
• 02:04 SpaceX-chartered fast crew boat Expenditure departed Port Isabel to work in the offshore hazard area
• 02:15 Pad cleared
• 02:36 Chopsticks started to open into launch configuration
• 02:44 "Pope" vent stack
• 02:58 CH4 side venting started
• 03:07 Some venting from cryo tanks
• 03:36 Road block moved further inland
• 03:44 LOX side venting started
• 04:09 Starbase range security boat Defender I outbound from South Padre Island
• 04:15 OLM vent likely started
• 04:20 OLIT vent spotted
• 05:24 OLM vent stopped
• 05:25 Prop load started (LOX on B9)
• 05:32 NASA WB-57 has taken off for photography operations during the test
• 05:35 Tower vent restarted, increased shortly after
• 05:37 Frost on B9 CH4 tank started to form
• 05:45 Prop load on Ship started (SpaceX announcement)
• 05:46 Tower vent stopped
• 05:55 Frost on S25 LOX tank started to form
• 05:58 Ship engine chill line venting
• 06:40 Booster engine chill started
• 06:59 Hold at T-00:00:40
• 07:02 Count continued at T-00:00:40
• 07:02:35 FireX
• 07:02:44 Flame Deflector activation
• 07:02:48 Ignition of 33 Engines
• 07:02:53 Liftoff!
• 08:48 Workers return to the launch site less than 2h after lift-off (IFT-1 after more than 28h)
• 09:06 Chopsticks started to move down
• 09:41 Workers entered OLS
• 09:44 Road opened (much faster than at OFT-1)

Flight:

• T+00:01:07 MaxQ
• T+00:02:39 MECO (Most Engines Cutoff)
• T+00:02:45 Stage Separation (Hot Staging)
• T+00:02:49 Boost Back Burn Startup
• T+00:03:18 Boost Back Burn Shutdown
• T+00:03:19 Booster RUD
• T+00:07:33 S25 experienced a visible effect at altitude 148 km and speed 20,348 km/h
• T+00:08:03 Ship RUD (Altitude 148 km, speed 24,123 km/h)

Streams and Videos

- Official SpaceX stream and information article

- SpaceX 360 Video of Liftoff

- Everyday Astronaut

- NASASpaceflight

- LabPadre

- EDA/Cosmic Perspective Supercut

- Trevor Mahlmann

- Astronomy Live Explosion filmed from Florida Keys

- RGV damage flyover

Telemetry

IFT-2 flight data (c meithan, reddit)

Telemetry and trajectory of IFT-2 (c jobo555, reddit)

Telemetry and trajectory of IFT-2 (c jobo555, reddit)

The complete dataset and graphics for IFT-1 and IFT-2 by jobo555 can be accessed here.

SpaceX Gallery

Lift off of Starship 9/25

The world's most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, powered by 33 Raptor engines, lifting off from Starbase. IFT-2 with Starship 9-25

Starship 9/25 IFT-2 at lift off

Starship 9/25 during hot staging

Starship's hot-stage separation was the first time this technique has been done successfully with a vehicle of this size

Watch the three center engines on Starship's upper stage gimbaling just after separation. Right before they ignite for hot-staging, the engines angle themselves outward to direct their exhaust towards the vented interstage before re-centering for ascent

View of OFT-2 from atop the tower at liftoff

Lift off of Starship 9–25 at OFT-2 as viewed from the launch tower

Slow motion tracking shot of Super Heavy's 33 Raptor engines shortly after liftoff

Even more pictures here

Timeline of Announcements and Updates

November 2023

17 November 2023

FAA ATCSCC advisory update: 18 November primary, 19 and 20 November backup launch dates

Space TFRs: New TFR added for 20 November 2023

SpaceX: "Starship and Super Heavy are ready at the launch pad in Starbase, Texas. Targeting Saturday, November 18 for Starship’s second integrated flight test"

Elon Musk: "Starship launch on track for tomorrow morning"

16 November 2023 - Launch postponed

Mary: "Can confirm that village evacuation for today has been cancelled."

On 16 November 2023, crews moved back the stands for S25 and the hot staging ring to the launch site. Elon Musk later confirmed that they had to postpone the launch to NET Saturday as they "need to replace a grid fin actuator". Soon after that announcement, Ship 25 was destacked.

Cameron County: RC for November 17 revoked, closure for November 18th now "scheduled"

SpaceX: Website updated to reflect the 18 November launch window, lasting for 20 minutes, starting at 7:00 am CT

John Kraus: "Starship has been destacked to replace a grid fin actuator on the Super Heavy booster; launch now targeting Saturday with a 20-minute window opening at 7:00 a.m. CT"

Maria Pointer: Boca Chica village to be evacuated on 10pm on Friday night

15 November 2023 - FAA/FWS Approval and SpaceX launch announcement

TFR added for 18 November

NAVCEN: Local notice to Mariners indicate IFT-2 launch windows from November 17–20 and 27–29 with the gap due to Thanksgiving federal holiday.

Cameron County: RC from Friday moved from possible to scheduled.

On 15 November 2023, SpaceX gained approval from the FAA to launch Starship for its second flight. It also received approval for the newly installed water deluge system that is under the launch mount. Soon after that, SpaceX officially announced that they are "Targeting Friday, November 17 for Starship’s second flight test. A two-hour launch window opens at 7:00 a.m. CT"

Christian Davenport: Noise advisory posted for Starship launch.

Starship 9/25 was restacked and the BQD tested.

Maria Pointer: "Village will be evacuated at 10pm Thursday night. For the scheduled launch on Friday Nov. 17th."

14 November 2023 - TFR

On 14 November 2023, a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction) for the 17th of November was released for Brownsville, Texas.

Christian Davenport: "Also just heard that a license is indeed imminent and that a Starship launch attempt could happen this week."

13 November 2023

MSIB

New Marine safety information bulletins were posted fro November 17–20, 5:25am–11:10am.

Elon Musk X update on Launch license

Musk said on X: "Was just informed that approval to launch should happen in time for a Friday launch"

ATCSCC Advisory

Starship flight 2 appeared on the ATCSCC Advisory with a launch date of November 17, and backup dates of November 18 and 19.

Road closures for flight

Road closures for flight for 17, 18 and 19 November were posted on the Cameron County website. The closures start at 12am and last until 2pm.

10 November 2023 - SpaceX target date of IFT-2

On 10 November 2023, SpaceX announced that they are targeting Friday the 17th of November for the second test flight of Starship, pending regulatory approval.

10 November 2023 - NOTAM US

Notams for the US side of the Gulf were posted for IFT-2 from November 15 to 17

9 November 2023 - FTS installation

On 9 November 2023, workers carrying explosives for the FTS were spotted. They moved it out of the bunker where it was stored. Shortly after manlifts have gone up to the FTS area on Booster 9 and Ship 25 and have begun the installation of the explosives for the FTS.

8 November 2023 - NOTMAR Update

On 8 November 2023 the NOTMAR for Texas was updated. It includes now the dates from November 13 until November 18. A second NOTMAR for Hawaii was also released with the same dates.

Also, the WB-57 plane for NASA flew back to Texas after a week in California ahead of the potential launch.

7 November 2023 - NOTAM Mexico

On 7 November 2023, a Mexican NOTAM (Notice to air mariners) was released for the flight of Starship. The NOTAM is valid from November 13 until November 18 with daily windows from 13:00 to 15:39 UTC.

6 November 2023 - Road closures for flight, NOTAM Mexico

On 6 November 2023, road closures were added to the Cameron County website. The road closures dates are 13, 14 and 15 November. The road closures start at 12 am to 2pm. Note: In the documents it is stated that these closures are for non-flight activities, but it will likely change to Flight when SpaceX receives its launch license. Also, NOTAMs for Mexican airspace issued for November 13–18 (7:00am–9:39am).

3 November 2023 - SpaceX IFT-2 Announcement

On 3 November 2023, SpaceX announced that the second flight of Starship is set to fly in mid November, pending regulatory approval. SpaceX also posted on their website an updated timeline for IFT-2.

SpaceX on X: "The second flight test of a fully integrated Starship could launch as soon as mid-November, pending regulatory approval"

1 November 2023 - Christian Davenport

"From what I’m hearing, a Nov. 6 SpaceX Starship launch date is off the table. But work continues and an attempt this month is still very much on the table as SpaceX and the FAA work closely together. The meeting with Elon and FAA officials last month was “cordial” and productive."

October 2023

31 October 2023 - FAA finishes safety review

On 31 October 2023, the FAA has finished its safety review for the second flight of Starship. This is one of the lasts steps that is needed for an approval of the FAA for IFT-2. Currently the FWS (Fish and Wildlife services) have not finished their review of the water deluge system. This is not expected to take long before its review is finished. If the FWS finds no negative impact for the water deluge system, the FAA will be able to give SpaceX their license for flight 2 of Starship.

FAA Statement

The FAA completed the safety review portion of the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy license evaluation on Oct. 31.

Background

A safety review is focused on issues that affect public health and safety of property. It consists of evaluating the applicant's safety organization, system safety processes, flight safety analysis, and quantitative risk criteria for launch, reentry, and vehicle disposal. The FAA is continuing to work on the environmental review. As part of tis environmental review, the FAA is consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service (USFWS) on an updated Biological Assessment under the Endangered Species Act. The FAA and the USFWS must complete this consultation before the environmental review portion of the license evaluation is completed.

26 October 2023 - FWS Statement

In a recent statement from the Fish and Wildlife services, they said that they are considering the effects of the water deluge system that has been recently installed under the launch pad at Starbase.

Statement from the FWS

• On Oct. 19, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service re-initiated the Endangered Species Act consultation with the FAA. We have up to 135 days to issue an amended biological opinion but do not expect to take the full amount of time.
• Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, re-initiation of formal consultation is required when a project and its impacts change significantly, the amount of take issued previously is exceeded, we have new information on listed species not previously considered, or a new species is listed.
• For SpaceX reinitiation with FAA we are considering the operation of a deluge system at the launch pad.

25 October 2023 - NOTMAR Update

Placeholder NOTMARs were issued for a potential launch going into effect on November 6 and onwards.

20 October 2023 - SpaceX announcement

"Starship team preparing for additional preflight tests in advance of a full launch rehearsal while continuing to work with the FAA on the Flight 2 license."

18 October 2023 - NOTMAR Update

In the recent NOTMAR update, there has been a new launch date given. SpaceX now targets the 1st of November for IFT-2 (Note: It is likely to get pushed as SpaceX still needs a launch license from the FAA).

On November 1, 2023, between 5:25 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., rocket launching operations are scheduled to take place near Boca Chica Beach, Texas. Back-up launch dates and times include each day following November 1, 2023, between 5:25 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., until conditions permit the launch.

18 October 2023 - FAA and FSW

In a statement on Tuesday, a FWS spokesperson said their agency received a final biological assessment from the FAA Oct. 5 and FWS has up to 30 days to review it. This came after the FAA sent FWS a letter in August, which requested "reinitiation of Endangered Species Act consultation." Following the 30-day review of the final biological assessment from the FAA, the FWS has "135 days to issue an amended biological opinion."

17 October 2023 - Washington Post

"As the consultation with FAA and US Fish and Wildlife over the Starship mishap will likely push into November, further delaying a second launch attempt, SpaceX is calling on Congress to push FAA to issue launch licenses faster"

16 October 2023 - SpaceX

Starship fully stacked while team prepares for a launch rehearsal. We continue to work with the FAA on a launch license

September 2023

30 September 2023 - SpaceX and Elon Musk

SpaceX: "Starship stacked at Starbase ahead of flight, team continues to work with the FAA on a launch license"

Elon Musk: "Starship is ready for flight 2!"

18 September 2023 - FAA and FWS

FAA has submitted a draft update of the Biological Assessment to the US Fish and Wildlife Dept sometime this august:

• The FWS is considering the operation of a water deluge system in Starbase and its environmental effects.
• The FWS has up to 135 days to submit the final biological opinion to the FAA (Started in August).

15 September 2023 - FAA Newsletter

In a newsletter, the FAA announced that they are conducting a Written Reevaluation to the PEA due to changes of the launch infrastructure as part of the license application determination process:

"SpaceX conducted a test flight of the Starship/Super Heavy at Boca Chica, TX on April 20, 2023. As a result of that launch, SpaceX completed a mishap investigation with FAA oversight; this investigation analyzed the launch, mishap events, and corrective actions. Before it is authorized to conduct a second Starship/Super Heavy launch, SpaceX must obtain a modified license from the FAA that addresses all safety, environmental, and other regulatory requirements. As part of that license application determination process, the FAA will review new environmental information, including changes related to the launch pad, as well as other proposed vehicle and flight modifications. The FAA will complete a Written Reevaluation (WR) to the 2022 Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) evaluating the new environmental information, including Endangered Species Act consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If the FAA determines through the WR process that the contents of the PEA do not remain valid in light of the changes proposed for Flight 2, additional environmental review will be required. Accordingly, the FAA has not authorized SpaceX's proposed Flight 2. The FAA will provide updates with notification of any license determination or results of additional environmental review."

Although it can be expected that the WR finds that the PEA remains vaild, the very cautious wording by the FAA is likely aimed at critics of the FAA.

13 September 2023

Reuters / FAA / Starship Gazer: No FAA Starship launch license until October at the soonest according to a new statement by acting FAA Administrator Polly Trottenberg. And SpaceX also still needs a separate environmental approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

11 September 2023

Jeff Foust: SpaceX senior vice president of commercial business Tom Ochinero says that the company is "real close" to next launch and that they are working closely with the regulators" at this point.

10 September 2023 - Elon Musk

Elon Musk posted two pictures containing the 63 corrective actions mentioned by the FAA on 8 September 2023, with most of them being completed. According to Elon Musk, the six items that remain open are not necessary for the upcoming flight: "Worth noting that 6 of the 63 items refer to later flights."

SpaceX's 63 items for upgrading Starship and Pad after Starship 7/24 for FAA mishap investigation

SpaceX's 63 items for upgrading Starship and Pad after Starship 7/24 for FAA mishap investigation

08 September 2023 - SpaceX

SpaceX issued an update on upgrades ahead of Starhsip's second flight test (for the updates on OFT-1, see OFT-1):

The main cause for OFT-1 mishap were fires in the engine bay which severed connection with the primary flight computer, leading to a loss of communication to the engines and thus to the loss of vehicle control. "SpaceX has since implemented leak mitigations and improved testing on both engine and booster hardware. As an additional corrective action, SpaceX has significantly expanded Super Heavy’s pre-existing fire suppression system in order to mitigate against future engine bay fires." Due to the delay in the autonomous flight safety system (AFSS), "SpaceX has enhanced and requalified the AFSS to improve system reliability".

"SpaceX is also implementing a full suite of system performance upgrades unrelated to any issues observed during the first flight test. For example, SpaceX has built and tested a hot-stage separation system, in which Starship’s second stage engines will ignite to push the ship away from the booster. Additionally, SpaceX has engineered a new electronic Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system for Super Heavy Raptor engines. Using fully electric motors, the new system has fewer potential points of failure and is significantly more energy efficient than traditional hydraulic systems."

"SpaceX also made significant upgrades to the orbital launch mount and pad system in order to prevent a recurrence of the pad foundation failure observed during the first flight test. These upgrades include significant reinforcements to the pad foundation and the addition of a flame deflector, which SpaceX has successfully tested multiple times."

Elon Musk also mentioned that the launch tower chopsticks were upgraded too: "Thousands of upgrades to Starship & launchpad/Mechazilla"

08 September 2023 - FAA

On 8 September 2023, the FAA announced that they have closed the SpaceX Starship Mishap Investigation. Aside from giving some details on the OFT-1 mishap causes (see OFT-1), this notice is an important indicator of progress towards the next launch.

According to the final mishap investigation report, SpaceX has to implement 63 corrective actions: "These included actions to address redesigns of vehicle hardware to prevent leaks and fires, redesign of the launch pad to increase its robustness, incorporation of additional reviews in the design process, additional analysis and testing of safety critical systems and components including the Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS), and the application of additional change control practices." It is obvious, that SpaceX was already working on some of this actions during the months after OFT-1, as major upgrade work on the launch infrastructure as well as on the vehicles was observed.

The FAA also highlighted the steps necessary on the path to a next integrated flight test (see IFT-2). SpaceX is required to apply for a modification of the old license for which they have to demonstrate that they have implemented the above-mentioned corrective actions. The FAA then has to approve the modifications.

06 September 2023

Eric Berger / FAA: According to Eric Berger, the FAA says that the Starship mishap investigation remains open.

NAVCEN: Marine notices for both the Gulf and Hawaii have been pulled as of 9/6 and no future date is currently scheduled

05 September 2023

Starship 9/25 fully stacked

Elon Musk: Starship is ready to launch, awaiting FAA license approval

04 September 2023

David Avery: New Marine hazard notices for IFT-2 issued for 8–13 September 2023, 15:10-18:50; also for Hawaii

02 September 2023

Cowboy Dan (IFT-2): "Boat #SpaceX used for ops during first orbital flight test is inbound to #Starbase atm. The former GLADYS D had been off grid last three weeks around Pensacola FL."

August 2023

28 August 2023

Christian Davenport: "From what I'm hearing, the next SpaceX Starship launch attempt is still weeks away, pending FAA approval. Modifications, such as the water deluge system, need to be approved. As always, the process is fluid and can speed up or slow down depending on a number of factors but as of now 9/8 doesn't appear likely."

23 August 2023

NAVCEN: "A new NOTMAR indicates the IFT-2 launch date is now NET September 8th."

FL/AL/MS/LA/TX - GULF OF MEXICO - Hazardous Operations - UPDATE LNM: 20-23 On approximately September 8, 2023, mariners operating offshore in waters east of Brownsville, Texas, are advised of rocket launching activities and associated hazardous areas which may impact navigation interests.  Navigational hazards from rocket launching activity may include, free falling debris and/or descending vehicles or vehicle components, under various means of control.  Mariners should avoid all waters within rocket flight trajectories originating from launch sites in the vicinity of Boca Chica Beach and Brownsville, Texas.  Rocket launching operations areas will be bound by the following approximate positions: [...]

16 August 2023

NAVCEN: Marine hazardous operations notice published for "rocket launch activities" for 31 August

15 August 2023

Jack Kuhr: SpaceX has filed the IFT-1 mishap report to the FAA. This is an important step towards the second launch test.

04 August 2023

On 4 August 2023, Elon Musk shared his expectations of this flight as B9 conducted a spin prime test for verification: "Preparing for next Starship flight! This time, I think we have ~50% probability of reaching orbital velocity, however even getting to stage separation would be a win". And ship 25 has had a spin prime and static fire test.

13 June 2023

Elon Musk: "6 to 8 weeks" until next Starship test.

09 June 2023

The FCC has granted SpaceX a communications license for the second experimental orbital demo and recovery test from Starbase.

26 May 2023

SpaceX: SpaceX has posted the recap of the Inaugural IFT. With this video, SpaceX confirms they'll be flying S25 and B9.

Elon Musk: "Major launchpad upgrades should be complete in about a month, then another month of rocket testing on pad, then flight 2 of Starship"

16 May 2023

FCC: SpaceX filed a FCC permit request for IFT-2, start date NET June 15

Gallery

S25 and B9 with all 33 engines lit during IFT 2.