FAA closes Starship mishap investigation, directs 63 corrective actions for SpaceX
FAA closes Starship mishap investigation, directs 63 corrective actions for SpaceX
The FAA has completed the mishap investigation in SpaceX’s first Starship launch but is not ready yet to approve a second launch of the vehicle.
This hadn't really sunk in until now:
On ascent, the vehicle deviated from the expected trajectory, resulting in the Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS) issuing a destruct command. After an unexpected delay following AFSS, Starship broke up
That's like, unforgivably bad.
Yeah, it basically punched a hole in the side but that didn't really do anything?
They qualified a new FTS system, and some of that testing showed up on the streams, so it sounds like this issue is already closed out. They approved the first FTS, too, though...
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
Fewer Letters More Letters AFSS Automated Flight Safety System FAA Federal Aviation Administration FTS Flight Termination System
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In b4 Musk throws a hissy-fit and is calling for the FAA to be closed down.
Why? It appears that most or all of the actions called for are things that have already been done. This seems like a straightforward and agreeable report.
Realistically they were almost certainly from a list of 69 remedies that spacex proposed to the FAA. I don't think the FAA is coming up with those items on their own.
Oddly, he replied Sep 9, 2023 · 12:20 AM UTC
In fairness to the FAA, it is rare for them to cause significant delays in launch.
Overwhelmingly, the responsibility is ours.