SpaceX Receives FCC Clearance For Starship Flight 5 Comms & Tests Tower Catch Arms

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SpaceX has received the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) approval to communicate with its Starship rocket during the upcoming flight 5 from Texas. The FCC approved SpaceX's application over the weekend to communicate with the Super Heavy booster, and by the looks of it, SpaceX has expanded its communications capabilities with the Starship booster ahead of the test flight that will see it attempt a booster catch with the launch tower arms for the first time.

SpaceX has not received the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) license approval for the Starship test flight. As it waits for the FAA, the firm is busy testing the launch tower arms in Texas as part of key pre flight preparations.

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SpaceX Tests Launch Tower Catch Arms In Texas Ahead Of Starship Flight 5

According to SpaceX's Starship Flight 5 test application filed with the FAA, the firm wanted to expand its capabilities to communicate with the Super Heavy booster during the flight. Rocket communications involve an up link and down link portion, with the former responsible for sending commands to the vehicle during different portions of the flight. Space had wanted the FCC to "authorize an additional power level for uplink frequencies for Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications" for the fifth test flight which is slated to launch from Boca Chica.

After SpaceX confirmed in June that the fifth Starship test flight would include a tower catch, the firm has shared little additional details for the test and its timeline. Since a tower catch will mark a significant change over previous Starship test flight profiles, SpaceX has to secure the FAA's approval for these changes before it can attempt to catch the 232 feet tall rocket with its launch tower.

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