It seems that the FAA has been impeding pretty much everyone with new rockets to launch. Several small rocket projects have been shelved, over the past four years, with the companies announcing a switch to larger launchers. After all, if the development delays are the same for the cheap, low profit small rockets than for the higher profit large rockets, then why not go to the higher profit rockets?

The operational rockets have been largely untouched by the overregulation, although SpaceX could complain that failures of its operational Falcons have been more scrutinized than in years past. Never before has a failed landing required a fleet grounding, and there were failures of the upper stage deorbit before, again without a required grounding.

Scanty evidence may suggest that the FAA is not unfairly picking on Starship’s test launches but that for the past few years the competent people at the FAA have been saddled with an incompetent regulatory system (or incompetent management). This incompetence has shown up most prominently for Starship, because that is the only one that has been trying to do a lot of test launches during the current (incompetent) administration.

David: Turns out I was wrong. They did the hot fire test, though late.

David: No. Scrubbed for today.

David: Oy. We begin another year, whereby my readers will correct me repeatedly for typing the previous year’s date in error.

I’m not complaining about you letting me know. I appreciate it. Thank you. I am just anticipating the likelihood that I will make this error numerous times in the coming weeks.