--- title: "SpaceX President Warns That Starship’s Orbital Launch May Explode" description: "SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell reiterated that the company's inaugural orbital launch attempt of its Starship spacecraft could end in an explosion." date: "2023-02-10" modified: "2023-02-10" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-president-warns-starship-orbital-launch-may-explode" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" - "Starship" tags: - "SpaceX" - "Starship" - "super heavy" - "the digest" --- # SpaceX President Warns That Starship’s Orbital Launch May Explode ![SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell reiterated that the company's inaugural orbital launch attempt of its Starship spacecraft could end in an explosion.]() *\Image: Cosmic Perspective\* ## Avoiding an Explosion SpaceX is gearing up for the long-awaited first orbital launch of its gigantic Starship super heavy launch system. A lot will be on the line. In fact, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell says that a lot can still go wrong. "Keep in mind, this first one is really a test flight... and the real goal is to not blow up the launch pad, that is success," she said at a Wednesday press conference, as [quoted by *CNBC*](). Indeed, explosions are always a possible outcome, especially considering the company's many [obliterated Starship prototypes]() over the last several years. ## Wet Dress Rehearsal Shotwell also said that "tomorrow is a big day for SpaceX," referring to the company's imminent [attempt to test fire the engines]() of its Super Heavy booster, a massive rocket meant to carry Starship into orbit. Rather than going all in on its inaugural launch attempt, Shotwell said that the company is focusing on ways to streamline rocket production. "There’s a lot of little things to get done, especially because we weren’t really focusing on the orbital ship," she said, "we were focusing on the production systems that will build the ship." "We know how to get to orbit," she added confidently. The company has already made major strides toward its first shot at launching Starship into space. Last month, SpaceX successfully completed its first "[wet dress rehearsal]()," involving a fully fueled-up Starship and Super Heavy prototype stack. But there's still one big hurdle to overcome: regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. SpaceX has yet to be certified for launch, something that could delay the orbital launch attempt. "I think we’ll be ready to fly right at the timeframe that we get the license," Shotwell said at the press conference. **READ MORE:** [SpaceX prepares for a massive test this week: Firing all 33 Starship engines at once]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()