Washington: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday that it has approved license modifications for SpaceX’s upcoming Starship Flight 9 mission. However, the agency clarified that final launch authorization is still pending and will only be granted after the conclusion of the investigation into the Flight 8 incident or a formal return-to-flight determination is made.
The FAA’s updated license notably permits SpaceX to ramp up its launch operations from Boca Chica, Texas, expanding the allowable number of launches from five annually to as many as 25 per year, a move first proposed in March.
Flight 8 ended in failure in early March after the spacecraft began spinning uncontrollably, leading to an engine shutdown and subsequent explosion in space. The incident had widespread consequences, disrupting approximately 240 commercial flights and forcing over two dozen of them into diversions due to potential debris concerns.
The FAA stated that it is currently reviewing SpaceX’s mishap report submitted on May 14. As part of the enhanced safety protocols, the agency said it will expand the aircraft and maritime hazard zones in both U.S. and international territories for the Flight 9 mission. This is partly due to SpaceX’s plan to reuse a previously launched Super Heavy booster—a first for the program—and partly in response to findings from the Flight 8 mishap.
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This marks the second consecutive test launch failure for the Starship program. Flight 7, which occurred just over a month prior to Flight 8, also ended in an explosion. Both missions failed in early flight phases that SpaceX had previously navigated successfully, signaling potential setbacks in a program that Elon Musk has aggressively pushed to accelerate in 2025.
The upcoming Starship 9 launch is expected to impact air routes spanning 1,600 nautical miles eastward from Texas, cutting through the Straits of Florida. Countries including the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos are anticipated to close their airspace up to 6,000 feet (1,828.8 meters), while the FAA will handle closures above that altitude. Approximately 175 flights are expected to be affected by the temporary airspace restrictions.
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SpaceX’s 403-foot Starship system is a cornerstone of Elon Musk’s broader vision to make human missions to Mars feasible within the next decade.
