The FAA will require SpaceX to determine the cause of a mishap that occurred on Starship’s ninth test flight on Tuesday. [Courtesy: SpaceX]
Key Takeaways:
SpaceX's Starship is grounded for an FAA mishap investigation after its ninth test flight ended with the vehicle breaking apart due to a "new failure mode," preventing critical reentry data collection.
This grounding and subsequent investigation challenge Elon Musk's ambitious plans for frequent Starship test flights and a proposed Mars landing by late 2026.
Ongoing setbacks and delays from required investigations could impact SpaceX's timelines for both NASA's Artemis lunar missions and Musk's long-term vision of establishing a self-sufficient city on Mars.
SpaceX’s Starship rocket is grounded until the company determines what went wrong during the vehicle’s latest test flight on Tuesday.
The FAA will require SpaceX to complete a mishap investigation into the largest rocket to ever fly, which for the third time this year “did not complete its launch or reentry as planned,” the agency said Friday.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
