CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX has suspended Starship launches pending an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) into a recent test flight that encountered a mishap.
The FAA announced on Wednesday that the hour-long flight, which took place last week, was marked by issues related to the performance of the rocket’s first-stage booster.
Shortly after the Starship launched from Texas on Friday, the booster separated as intended; however, its engines failed during the return to Earth. The booster did not achieve a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico and instead crashed upon re-entry. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or property damage, according to the FAA, which will oversee the investigation.
Despite the issues with the booster, the spacecraft successfully completed its mission by orbiting the Earth and deploying 20 mock satellites. The mission concluded as planned with a fiery splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
The Starship, measuring 407 feet (124 meters), represents SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s most ambitious project, designed to transport crews to Mars. NASA has expressed interest in utilizing the Starship for potential lunar landings as early as 2028, contributing to plans for a lunar base.