{"id":23735,"date":"2025-08-15T21:23:47","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T13:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/faa-approves-starship-flight-10-after-mishap-probe-eyes-august-24-launch\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T21:23:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T13:23:47","slug":"faa-approves-starship-flight-10-after-mishap-probe-eyes-august-24-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/faa-approves-starship-flight-10-after-mishap-probe-eyes-august-24-launch\/","title":{"rendered":"FAA approves Starship Flight 10 after mishap probe, eyes August 24 launch"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>SpaceX has received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct the 10th test flight of its Starship rocket, with a targeted launch date of August 24.<\/p>\n<p>The approval for Flight 10 comes after the closure of an investigation into anomalies during the vehicle\u2019s previous mission, marking a key step forward in SpaceX\u2019s test program.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"SpaceX Reveals Starship Flight 9 Failure Mode + Flight 10 Launch Date!\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SqLkJrNt4S0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid0\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The FAA announced on Friday morning that it had concluded its review of the mishap from Starship\u2019s Flight 9, which occurred earlier this year. That test involved Booster 14, making its second flight as the Super Heavy first stage, paired with Ship 35.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 250px; height: 906px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1956369469078450330&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2025%2F08%2Ffaa-flight-10-mishap-probe-august-24%2F&amp;sessionId=e910d02f8e43a9de94c34400feea5437953d5b1d&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1956369469078450330\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Unlike the prior two flights, Ship 35 successfully completed its ascent and reached engine cutoff, a significant return to confidence for the propulsion system\u2019s performance in space. However, during the subsequent coast phase, the vehicle lost attitude control, leading to an uncontrolled reentry and destruction upon atmospheric entry.<\/p>\n<p>The incident prompted a mandatory FAA-mandated investigation, requiring SpaceX to submit a detailed report outlining the failure\u2019s causes and corrective actions.<\/p>\n<p>In an update posted on its official website following the FAA\u2019s announcement, SpaceX revealed that the probable root cause was a failure in the diffuser component of the main fuel tank pressurization system. Located at the top of the forward dome in the methane tank, the diffuser supplies pressurization gases to maintain tank integrity as fuel is depleted during flight.<\/p>\n<p>Aerospace industry analysis<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Spaceflight news subscription<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Space Technology<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>According to SpaceX, the diffuser\u2019s failure caused a leak from the methane tank into the nosecone area, increasing pressure and eventually allowing liquid methane to seep in. This rapidly cooled critical systems, triggering automatic passivation commands that vented all remaining propellant into space.<\/p>\n<p>Engineers replicated the failure mode at the company\u2019s test facilities in McGregor, Texas, and have since redesigned the diffuser to reduce structural strain. The updated component has undergone extensive qualification testing in preparation for future flights.<br \/>\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-108813\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-11-37-628.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2273\" height=\"1259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-11-37-628.jpg 2273w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-11-37-628-350x194.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-11-37-628-630x350.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-11-37-628-768x425.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-11-37-628-1920x1063.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-11-37-628-1170x648.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2273px) 100vw, 2273px\">While SpaceX likely completed much of the analytical work quickly, the report\u2019s finalization depended on verifying changes through pre-launch testing for Flight 10, thus extending the timeline for conclusions and approval.<\/p>\n<p>This aligns with recent developments, including the completion of Ship 37\u2019s testing earlier this week without incident.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"&quot;A (Ship 37) Field Trip to the Launch Site&quot; | SpaceX Starbase\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nQibT5ciRLQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid1\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"widget-title penci-border-arrow\">See Also<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>SpaceX Starship Program<\/li>\n<li>L2 SpaceX Section<\/li>\n<li>NSF Store<\/li>\n<li>Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Adding to the program\u2019s challenges, SpaceX disclosed details on the loss of Ship 36, originally slated for Flight 10, which exploded during ground testing in June. Although not requiring an FAA mishap probe since it occurred pre-flight, the company conducted its own internal review.<\/p>\n<p>The update stated: \u201cThe most probable root cause was identified as undetectable or under-screened damage to a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) in Starship\u2019s payload bay section, which failed and resulted in structural failure of the vehicle, causing subsequent propellant mixing and ignition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In response, SpaceX is enhancing inspections, proof tests, and handling protections for COPVs, while also planning to operate them at reduced pressures to mitigate risks.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-108812\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-12-18-144.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2273\" height=\"1259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-12-18-144.jpg 2273w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-12-18-144-350x194.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-12-18-144-630x350.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-12-18-144-768x425.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-12-18-144-1920x1063.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NSF-2025-08-16-04-12-18-144-1170x648.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2273px) 100vw, 2273px\">With both investigations resolved, attention now turns to Flight 10. The launch window opens at 6:30 p.m. Central Time on August 24, lasting one hour, and will feature Booster 16 and Ship 37.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX plans to retry experiments from the last three Block 2 ship flights, including ascent and coast maneuvers on the upper stage, alongside entry and landing tests on the booster similar to those attempted in Flight 9.<\/p>\n<p>While SpaceX has emphasized that each flight builds on lessons from the last, accelerating progress toward operational status, the next two flights with the Block 2 variation do allow for a focus on data gathering before Version 3 of the vehicle begins launching from Pad 2.<\/p>\n<p>This variant will build on the lessons learned from the previous vehicles and press on toward becoming operational, including from KSC\u2019s 39A, which is set to come online next year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Starship Is Large - SpaceX's Florida Plans Are HUGE!\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WgAry1HsICQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\" name=\"fitvid2\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>(Feature Image: Max Evans shot of Flight 9 for NSF).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SpaceX has received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct the 10th test flight of its Starship rocket, with a targeted launch date of August 24. The approval for Flight 10 comes after the closure of an investigation into anomalies during the vehicle\u2019s previous mission, marking a key step forward in SpaceX\u2019s test [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[8026,8027,8028,8029,8030,8031,1002,316,739,317],"class_list":["post-23735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-copv","tag-diffuser","tag-flight-10","tag-flight-9","tag-ship-35","tag-ship-36","tag-ship-37","tag-spacex","tag-starbase","tag-starship"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23735"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23735"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23735\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}