Starship ignited its Raptor engines Monday morning on a test stand near SpaceX's Starbase launch facility in South Texas. The engine ran for approximately 60 seconds, and SpaceX confirmed the test-firing in a post on X: "Starship completed a long duration six-engine static fire and is undergoing final preparations for the ninth flight test."

SpaceX has met another requirement for a new license that would allow 25 Starbase rocket launches per year. Current regulations only allow for five.

The Federal Aviation Administration has granted SpaceX permission to increase launches of its Starship rockets and Super Heavy boosters to 25 per year.

After a lengthy review, the federal agency agreed to allow SpaceX to substantially increase the number of annual launches from its Starbase launch site in South Texas. Previously, the company was limited to five launches, but now it will be able to conduct up to 25 Starship launches and landings during a calendar year.

The FAA has approved SpaceX's request to increase the maximum number of Starship launches from its Starbase site in South Texas per year from five to 25.

Starship rocket launches from Texas-based Starbase SpaceX is now authorised to land Super Heavy and Starship stages 25 times FAA finds no significant environmental impact under NEPA for launch incre

After Trump loosened environmental regulations, FAA gives SpaceX permission to conduct almost two rocket launches per month from Starbase in Texas.

Sean Duffy was grilled over whether Elon Musk's cuts via DOGE have “made this situation worse" and "increased the challenges and potential safety concerns."