SpaceX is preparing a critical test flight of its Starship megarocket, aiming for the evening of May 21 with a launch window opening no earlier than 6:30 P.M. EDT. Federal officials are scrutinizing the program because delays could affect NASA’s planned moon mission timeline and worker safety at the Starbase complex in Texas. The test flight was originally planned for May 17, the same day emergency services responded to a worker death at Starbase. OSHA opened an investigation into the incident, reported as a contractor death in a fall, with social media indicating emergency vehicles near the Gigabay building used to produce and maintain Starship. SpaceX has not confirmed whether the timing delay is related. SpaceX plans to livestream the launch on its website and YouTube.
"Elon Musk's SpaceX is gearing up for what could be the most critical test of its Starship megarocket to date as the company comes under the scrutiny of federal officials who are worried that delays to the Starship program will eat into NASA's planned moon mission timeline and affect worker safety at SpaceX's Starbase complex in Texas."
"The test flight was originally planned for last Fridaythe same day that emergency services responded to the death of a SpaceX worker at Starbase. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the incident; the Wall Street Journal reported the person was a contractor at Starbase who died in a fall, while social media posts indicated emergency vehicles outside the Gigabay buildinga facility SpaceX uses to produce and maintain Starship."
"SpaceX had initially punted the launch date to May 19 before the company announced a further delay over the weekend. Now it is targeting May 21, with a launch window opening no earlier than 6:30 P.M. EDT. SpaceX will livestream the launch on its website and YouTube."
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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