SpaceX cleared the final regulatory hurdle standing before the inaugural launch of its Starship rocket last week. “After a comprehensive license evaluation process, the FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental, policy, payload, airspace integration and financial responsibility requirements,” the FAA said in a statement. Some background: SpaceX had been waiting more than a year to get FAA approval for this launch. In June, the FAA granted SpaceX one key approval for launching Starship, though it laid out a list of “mitigating actions” the company would need to take before the first launch. The FAA official also said government personnel will be on the ground to ensure SpaceX complies with its license during the test launch.

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