SpaceX Starship Grounded Indefinitely By FAA

The spacecraft could be out of operation for months as the FAA investigates the cause of last week's launch explosion.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 03:44 PM ET

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SpaceX called the event a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.” [Credit: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's Starship orbital test flight exploded shortly after launch, leading to an FAA grounding and investigation into the mishap.
The explosion caused unexpected environmental and property damage, including particulate matter and structural damage miles from the launch site.
The launchpad suffered significant damage, forming a large crater due to the lack of a flame trench and an underestimation of the engine's force.
Environmental groups are raising concerns about health and ecological impacts, questioning the FAA's prior approval despite ongoing strong government partnerships with SpaceX for other projects.

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For all of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s enthusiasm about the orbital test flight of Starship, last week’s launch has sidelined the project for the time being.

Shortly after Thursday’s test flight concluded in a ball of flames, reports emerged that the FAA has grounded Starship as it conducts an investigation into the reason behind the explosion—and as others examine the potential health and safety hazards it created.