The Super Heavy booster at the launch pad ahead of Starship Flight 8. Image: SpaceX SpaceX is getting close to launching Starship Flight 9, according to an email sent by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to the company's representatives. The firm has picked up the pace on Flight 9 since late last month after it tested the upper-stage Starship rocket at its test site and fired the rocket's engines twice. SpaceX has shipped Starship back to the test site again in what appears to be preparations for another static fire ahead of Flight 9. Over the past few weeks, two Coast Guard notices have indicated that Flight 9 will fly soon. The latest of these lists a launch period starting from May 20th, and an email sent by the FCC to SpaceX mentions May 19th to indicate that Starship will fly again soon. SpaceX Gears Up For Starship Flight 9 As It Ships Upper Stage Ship To Ground Test Facilities The latest information about a potential Starship Flight 9 launch date came earlier this week when a Coast Guard notice to mariners indicated that a launch could occur on any day starting from May 20th and ending on May 29th. The latest notice followed an earlier notice, which listed May 13th as the start date of a launch window that lasted until May 23rd. The first notice came just as SpaceX was communicating with the FCC about the frequencies to use for the Starship Super Heavy booster's ground testing before Flight 9. This booster first flew on Starship Flight 7, and Flight 9 will mark the first time SpaceX reuses a Super Heavy booster in a test flight. Around the same time the first notice was issued, SpaceX communicated with the FCC to discuss the frequencies it will use for Super Heavy ground tests during Starship Flight 9. The firm's application to the FCC notes that the application is "necessary to authorize 2056 MHz and 2062 MHz at low power (3W) for on-ground testing only of Starship Super Heavy vehicle communications to include Test Flight 9 day of launch starting at T-14 hours through T+10 minutes at the SpaceX test facility located in Boca Chica and Brownsville TX." The time period that the application requests to use the frequency starts from the 18th of this month and lasts for a month. As part of its correspondence with SpaceX, the FCC sent an email to SpaceX confirming that it "concurred" with SpaceX regarding the use of specific frequencies for pre-flight tests. The FCC advised SpaceX to work with it to secure approval, and added that the agency might be able to "provide a quick path in the short term" as the Starship Flight 9 launch window opened on May 19th. Footage from local media shows that SpaceX has transported the upper stage ship to its ground testing facilities for what will most likely be a static fire test. Provided that the static fire test is a success, SpaceX will be able to proceed towards the upcoming launch window after a long delay between test flights for the Starship program. Deal of the Day