FILE PHOTO: SpaceX’s next-generation Starship spacecraft, atop its powerful Super Heavy rocket, explodes after its launch from the company’s Boca Chica launchpad on a brief uncrewed test flight near Brownsville, Texas, U.S. April 20, 2023. REUTERS/Joe Skipper
— Joe Skipper (@skipper_p) August 4, 2022
Washington, United States — SpaceX’s highly-anticipated Starship rocket has been temporarily grounded as the company works to address a series of corrective actions following a disastrous launch. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated 63 steps to improve safety, including the redesign of vehicle hardware and the launch pad, as well as rigorous testing of safety systems.
The setback occurred during the first orbital test flight when the uncrewed rocket exploded just four minutes after takeoff from the Boca Chica launchpad in Texas. Among the issues encountered were multiple engine failures and the failure of the first-stage booster to separate from the spacecraft. The rocket disintegrated upon re-entry and impacted the Gulf of Mexico, while debris scattered across a nearby town.
While CEO Elon Musk hailed the launch as a success due to the valuable insights gained, the FAA launched an investigation into the incident. Environmental groups also criticized the regulator for not doing enough to protect the nearby habitat of protected species. The investigation is now complete, but the FAA has made it clear that the resumption of Starship launches requires the implementation of corrective actions and a license modification from the agency.
Despite this setback, an updated Starship is already prepared for launch, according to SpaceX. The company maintains that the first test flight served as a critical step in advancing the capabilities of the rocket and revealed valuable lessons to inform future upgrades. Standing at 394 feet tall, Starship generates over 16.7 million pounds of thrust and is envisioned as a fully reusable spacecraft for crew and cargo missions to Mars. SpaceX has also secured a contract with NASA to utilize Starship as a lander for the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon within the next few years.
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