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SpaceX's Starship rocket is grounded after the Federal Aviation Administration declared last week's test flight a mishap and ordered an investigation into why the vehicle's Super Heavy booster failed during its first flight.
The FAA announced Wednesday that the May 22 launch of Starship's newest version, known as V3, resulted in a mishap based on the booster's performance after stage separation. After separating from the upper stage on schedule, the booster could not complete the burns necessary to guide itself back toward the Gulf of Mexico, leaving it without the control needed for a safe water landing. The booster hit the water with force rather than touching down in a controlled manner, according to The Associated Press. There were no reports of injury or property damage.
"The FAA will oversee the SpaceX-led investigation, be involved in every step of the process, and approve SpaceX's final report, including any corrective actions," the agency said in a statement. Starship will be cleared to fly again only if the FAA determines that any system, process, or procedure linked to the mishap does not affect public safety.
The upper stage fared better. Twenty simulated Starlink satellites were released during the mission, and the spacecraft wrapped up its flight with a soft ocean landing near Western Australia, hitting its intended target. A separate problem — the early shutdown of one engine among Starship's six — drew no announced scrutiny from the FAA, according to Bloomberg.
