SpaceX cleared for Starship test flight Sunday

The latest: "The FAA determined SpaceX met all safety, environmental and other licensing requirements for the suborbital test flight," the FAA said in a statement to Axios.

• "The Flight 5 mission profile involves launch of the combined Starship/Super Heavy vehicle from Boca Chica, Texas, a return to the launch site of the Super Heavy booster rocket for a catch attempt by the launch tower, and a water landing of the Starship vehicle in the Indian Ocean west of Australia."
• The launch is set for 7am CT and will be live-streamed on the SpaceX website and on X.

What they're saying: "This the largest & most powerful flying object ever made at more than double the thrust of the Saturn V Moon rocket," Musk posted on X Friday.

• "We will try to catch it upon return to launch site using the Mechazilla arms like giant chopsticks (like Karate Kid)!"
• The FAA had initially targeted late November for approval, drawing accusations from SpaceX and Musk that it was forcing unnecessary delays.

Go deeper:

• Musk says SpaceX will sue FAA for "regulatory overreach"
• Drama in space
• The high stakes of SpaceX's dominance in space