Mr. Musk, ignoring the FAA delays Space X’s success
The FAA on Friday issued a terse statement that it had completed its “mishap Investigation” of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship must stay grounded until the company takes dozens of corrective actions. The list of 63 items includes redesign of vehicle hardware and launch pad reviews in the design process, additional analysis and testing of safety critical systems and components.
Mr. Musk TWEETED (OR IS IT XED) WITHIN HOURS that averring all of the corrections essential to the next launch had been completed and we’re ready to launch [not a quote]. Like Cool Hand Luke heard from the warden, “WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE” is the FAA’s likely response to the Billionaire’s assertion.
Entrepreneurs are primary drivers of innovation. Their private sector endeavors are more comfortable with risks. REGULATORS, BY STATUTE, ARE MANDATED TO MAKE SAFETY THEIR PRIMARY MISSION. This uber focus on protecting the public is reinforced constantly by Congressional oversight and media criticism. They cannot and will not take the license applicant’s “assurance” as definitive. The cited failures all require confirmation by federal engineers
It must be remembered that the launch explosion sent pieces of concrete and metal hurtling for thousands of feet and created a plume of pulverized concrete that spread for miles around. Impacts antithetical to the FAA’s raison d‘être. The entrepreneurial tolerance for risk was made clear when SpaceX had warned before the launch that the chances of success were low and said that the company aimed to use the test flight to gather data.
Musk’s failure to understand the FAA’s authority merits the rebuke received by Paul Neuman. Entrepreneurs, such as the early UAS proprietors, AAM/UAM venturers and “spaceniks”, must understand the institutional imperative of the FAA, recognize their powers/processes/practices and deal with it. Ignoring their control of innovation actually retards the private sector’s drive to success!!!
FAA Closes SpaceX Starship Mishap Investigation
Friday, September 8, 2023
The FAA has closed the SpaceX Starship Super Heavy mishap investigation. The final report cites multiple root causes of the April 20, 2023, mishap and 63 CORRECTIVE ACTIONS SpaceX must take to prevent mishap reoccurrence. Corrective actions include 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, and the application of additional change control practices.
The closure of the mishap investigation does not signal an immediate resumption of Starship launches at Boca Chica. SpaceX must implement all corrective actions that impact public safety and apply for and receive a license modification from the FAA that addresses all safety, environmental and other applicable regulatory requirements prior to the next Starship launch.
Contact SpaceX for additional information. Learn more about mishap investigations.
Elon Musk Says SpaceX Has Resolved 57 FAA-Demanded Fixes For Starship’s Next Flight
byAnan Ashraf, Benzinga Editor
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Sunday [9/10)] that the company has implemented all the fixes demanded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Starship ahead of its second flight test.
What Happened: “Congrats to SpaceX for completing & documented the 57 ITEMS required by the FAA for Flight 2 of Starship!” the CEO wrote on Twitter, [now known as X] [(9/8)].
The FAA said on Friday that it has closed its investigation into the explosion of Starship during its first flight test in April. The final report cited multiple root causes for the mishap and 63 CORRECTIVE ACTIONS for the rocket manufacturer to take. These corrective actions include a redesign of the vehicle hardware and launchpad and the incorporation of additional reviews in the design process.
SpaceX has completed 57 actions thus far. The remaining 6, however, are for later flights and not the immediate next, Musk said. Most of the fixes left for the future include those pertaining to the improvement of raptor reliability.
Why It Matters: SpaceX conducted the first test launch of Starship on April 20. The rocket exploded in less than four minutes after take-off, damaging the launch pad at Starbase and raining down dust on the residents of Port Isabel, Texas.
Last week, Musk said that Starship — touted to be the biggest rocket ever and a major part of his dreams of making life “multi-planetary” by enabling human and cargo travel to Mars — is ready to launch and is now merely awaiting FAA license approval for its second flight test.
The initial launch license procured by SpaceX authorized it to conduct just one launch and the company will now have to apply for a modification of the license to allow for more launches. While applying for a modification, SpaceX will also have to demonstrate that it has implemented corrective measures, FAA had said.
