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-Short Attention Span Theater-
FAA changes course and blocks SpaceX's next hopper test
2019-08-16
[Teslarati] SpaceX’s next Starhopper flight needs more analysis for FAA go-ahead, says Elon Musk.

According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the company’s next major Starhopper flight test is still awaiting FAA approval due to a need for more hazard analysis, presumably required because Starhopper will be traveling much higher than before.

On August 9th, SpaceX completed a routine wet dress rehearsal (WDR) with Starhopper, loading the vehicle with propellant and fluids and replicating a launch countdown up to the point of Raptor ignition. Starhopper remains untethered in a sign that SpaceX doesn’t have plans for a static fire test before the low-fidelity rocket prototype’s next flight milestone. Originally scheduled for August 12th, that milestone – a 200m (650 ft) hop test – has been indefinitely delayed as SpaceX awaits an updated permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Paging Senator Shelby...
Posted by:3dc

#2  IIUC, the FAA has issued a NOTAMS for the Starhopper hop for this weekend. The window started 2 hours ago!

NOTAMS text
Posted by: The peanut gallery   2019-08-16 17:55  

#1  FAA slow rolling the testing. Govt agency protecting other gov agencies...
Posted by: 49 Pan   2019-08-16 11:23  

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