Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s Starship rocket has been cleared for launch by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
With the help of SpaceX’s Super Heavy rocket, Starship is the spacecraft that’s designed to ferry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars. SpaceX says it’s targeting a Starship launch from the company’s Texas Starbase “as soon as” April 17th.
The “150-minute test window” opens at 8AM ET, according to SpaceX’s launch website, and there will be a live webcast of the test.
“After a comprehensive license evaluation process, the FAA determined SpaceX met all safety environment, policy, payload, airspace integration and financial responsibility requirements,” the FAA says in a statement. “The license is valid for five years.”
Bijay Pokharel
Bijay Pokharel is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Abijita, an independent technology and cybersecurity news publication established in 2017. A specialist in cybersecurity journalism, Bijay covers vulnerability research, malware analysis, enterprise data breaches, digital privacy, and emerging technologies. His work translates complex technical threats into precise, accessible, and actionable intelligence for security professionals and general readers alike. His reporting and investigative coverage are routinely cited and republished across leading technology and security media.



