No investigation for SpaceX Starship Flight 5: FAA

SpaceX has completed the Starship Flight 5 and achieved two important milestones booster catch and a controlled landing for the upper stage.

These two were the primary objectives in line with the launch application filed with the FAA for a license. Therefore, the agency has now announced that there’s no investigation required for Starship Flight 5.

“The FAA assessed the operations of the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Flight 5 mission that launched from Boca Chica, Texas, on Oct. 13, 2024. All flight events for both the Starship vehicle and the Super Heavy booster occurred within the scope of planned and authorized activities” said FAA in a statement published on late October 13 post Starship Flight 5.

The company has been testing this mega rocket since April 2023 and so far it has conducted five test flights including the one from this past Sunday.

However, this new flight accounts for significant improvements compared to the ones launched before.

After the liftoff, the integrated flight reached max Q and performed stage separation. At that phase, the first stage enabled a boostback burn and the spacecraft started its 6 raptor engines to coast over Earth.

On its way back to the launch pad, the booster fired a landing burn and caught by the launch tower’s robotic arms.

SpaceX Starship 5 Liftoff Engine Ignition from Boca Chica Starbase Texas (Source – SpaceX)

This is the first time, any space vehicle launch maker has attempted to catch a large-size reusable rocket.

The decision to catch the first stage was based on the vehicle’s post-liftoff health. Eventually, this condition was met and the company completed this task successfully.

On the other hand, the spacecraft completed its reentry phase and endured the high heat to splash down in the Indian Ocean in a controlled landing.