federal aviation administration

SpaceX is aiming to launch its massive Starship rocket for the third time as soon as March 14, the company confirmed in a social media post Wednesday. SpaceX is still awaiting regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the launch, without which Starship will remain grounded. But even though the FAA has yet to give SpaceX the green light for the next mission, there are signs that the company has been anticipating receiving it — soon. Just this past weekend, teams at the Starbase facility in…

SpaceX teased a tentative date for the third launch of its Starship rocket. The company posted a link on X for viewing Starship’s third flight test next week after having completed a wet dress rehearsal for its massive rocket on Sunday night.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewThe live feed for Starship’s test flight is currently scheduled for March 14 at 7:30 a.m. ET. Earlier this week, SpaceX carried out a fueling test for its Starship rocket at the company’s Starbase in Boca…

Image: Photo: Shutterstock Graphics: Vicky LetaRenowned puzzler Peter Winkler invented the addictive word game, HIPE, with some friends when they were juniors in high school. While it may not have become the overnight success of Wordle, the game did earn Winkler admission to Harvard. According to his book, Mathematical Mind-Benders, he wrote a college admission essay about how his verbal diversion sparked a local craze. Four years later, as a Harvard senior, Winkler overheard an admissions committee member quizzing a…

The clock is ticking to get a legislative fix for mission authorization approved, according to Kelvin Coleman, the Federal Aviation Administration’s associate administrator for commercial space transportation. “Given that we have some momentum now and that Congress is paying attention, I would hate to lose that attention, so I do think it’s critical to get it done this Congress,” he said last week, talking with reporters on the sidelines of the Commercial Space Transportation Conference in D.C. “This is an issue that’s…

Ever since a passenger plane’s door blew off in early January, plane-maker Boeing has been under increased scrutiny. Now, a new report from the Federal Aviation Administration calls into question the aircraft manufacturer’s safety procedures, calling them “inadequate.” Prepping the Sandworm Scenes in Dune: Part TwoThe report, which was published Monday, was originally requested by Congress in 2023 as part of a legislative effort to enhance security in the airline industry. The report, which was compiled by a panel of…

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has closed its investigation into the second Starship test flight, which SpaceX performed on November 18, 2023. With the inquiry concluded, SpaceX is now on track to advance its program, pending the necessary fixes.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewOrbital Test Flight 2 (OFT-2) was a considerable improvement over the first test, done on April 20, 2023, which resulted in considerable damage to the launch pad and the surrounding area as…

The Federal Aviation Administration has concluded its review of SpaceX’s investigation of the second Starship launch in November, with the regulator saying Monday that it accepted the “root causes and 17 corrective actions” identified by the company. While this means the investigation is now closed, SpaceX must implement all the corrective actions and apply for a modified launch license before it can fly Starship again. “The FAA is evaluating SpaceX’s license modification request and expects SpaceX to submit…

Putting your phone in airplane mode when boarding a flight feels like common sense. You wouldn’t be crazy for thinking your phone signal could interfere with an airplane’s navigation systems, potentially causing a disaster. However, the necessity of airplane mode is largely a myth, and there’s another reason airlines are asking you to turn your phone off.Could NASA's Electric Airplane Make Aviation More Sustainable?Europe decided to allow phone calls and data usage on flights in 2022. They’re requiring all planes to…

Zipping around the city by personal jet pack is still just a dream, but a drone humming along to drop off groceries, prescriptions or a late-night pizza at your door could become a reality in the Denver area as soon as late spring. Drone Express, which moved its headquarters to Denver in November, is one of a handful of companies to earn a spot in the Federal Aviation Administration program focused on incorporating drones into the national airspace and authorizing their use for commercial services. Within the next few…

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a reentry license to Varda Space’s manufacturing capsule, allowing the first batch of space drugs to return back to Earth.This is the Coolest Galaxy S24 AI Feature That Few Are Talking AboutCalifornia-based Varda Space Industries had been struggling to land its first orbital factory, which was originally meant to return to Earth in September 2023 but was denied reentry. Following months of trying, the company was finally granted its reentry license from the FAA, which will…