FAA Grants License for SpaceX Falcon 9 Return to Flight

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a launch license to SpaceX for the upcoming return to flight of its Falcon 9, although its planned launch has been delayed by at least one day. FAA spokesman Hank Price said in a Jan. 6 statement that the agency had reviewed and accepted SpaceX’s investigation into its Sept. 1 pad explosion. "SpaceX applied for a license to launch the Iridium Next satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base.