SpaceX is gearing up for another test flight of its mega-rocket, with federal regulators granting final approval for the launch, set to take place on Friday.
The first attempt to launch the Starship rocket in April ended in an explosion shortly after liftoff from South Texas, AP reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued the license for the launch, confirming that SpaceX has met safety, environmental, and other requirements.
Following the previous mishap, SpaceX has made numerous improvements to the rocket and launch pad, which was left with a significant crater beneath it due to the self-destructing system.
According to AP, SpaceX holds a $3 billion NASA contract to use the Starship to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2025.
While wildlife and environmental groups have raised concerns and even sued the FAA over environmental impacts, the upcoming test flight is planned to last one and a half hours and will not carry anything of value. It will follow an eastward trajectory over oceans before ditching near Hawaii.
