FAA Grounds SpaceX Starship After V3 Debut

Company must now complete a mishap investigation or receive an FAA return to flight determination.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 04:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

FAA grounds SpaceX’s largest rocket yet after its booster experienced anomalies during a test flight this month. [Credit: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has grounded SpaceX's Starship after its 12th test flight, mandating an investigation into multiple engine failures experienced by the Super Heavy booster during a crucial boostback maneuver.
Despite the booster's issues, the Starship upper stage, featuring its new V3 upgrades, successfully achieved its planned trajectory, deployed satellites, and completed atmospheric reentry.
This grounding disrupts SpaceX's planned launch cadence, potentially affecting its initial public offering (IPO) plans, commercial orbital missions, and commitments to NASA's Artemis lunar landing program.

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After completing what it said was a “thorough assessment,” the FAA on Wednesday ordered SpaceX to investigate anomalies that its Super Heavy booster experienced during the 12th test flight of its behemoth Starship rocket.

The aviation regulator on Tuesday was ambiguous about whether an investigation would be required into Starship Flight 12, which launched Friday evening from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas. Now, it is grounding the largest rocket ever constructed until the company determines what prevented multiple engines from lighting during a planned Super Heavy flip and boostback maneuver.