SpaceX’s Starship cleared to fly with larger ‘hazard zones.’

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved SpaceX to conduct the ninth test flight of its Starship rocket, following two explosions earlier this year.

On Thursday, the FAA announced it would expand hazard zones—temporary no-fly areas—both in the U.S. and abroad, based on updated safety data from SpaceX. Failures in Flights 7 and 8 increased the risk of debris, prompting the need for broader safety measures.

FAA Expands Starship Hazard Zone to 1,600 Nautical Miles Following Debris Incidents

The new hazard zone spans about 1,600 nautical miles east from Texas through the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, where debris from the previous flights was found—roughly twice the size of the zone used during the March test.

To minimize disruption, the FAA is also requiring SpaceX to launch during off-peak travel times, after earlier test mishaps led to dozens of flight reroutes.

SpaceX has been testing its Starship rocket system for the past two years at its custom-built launch site in southern Texas. While CEO Elon Musk envisions Starship ultimately transporting humans to Mars, its immediate purpose is to expand SpaceX’s ability to deploy more Starlink satellites into Earth’s orbit. The company also plans to use Starship to enhance mission capabilities for NASA and the Department of Defense.

Falcon 9 Remains the Backbone of Starlink Launch Operations

Currently, SpaceX relies on its reliable Falcon 9 rocket to launch Starlink satellites—now the focus of most of its missions.

Though Starlink is already a sought-after internet service, demand for launch capacity may grow even further, especially as the Trump administration is reportedly encouraging other nations to adopt Starlink as a strategic tool in ongoing trade disputes.

Members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are reportedly assisting the FAA in testing Starlink terminals as a possible fix for issues with the existing air traffic control system.

Read the original article on: Techcrunch

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