FAA orders SpaceX to investigate Starship V3 malfunction

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered SpaceX to investigate the causes of a malfunction that occurred during the Starship test flight on May 22. This decision means the company must suspend new flights until the investigation is concluded and the results are approved by the FAA. This situation reduces the chances of SpaceX conducting the next test before the expected IPO scheduled for mid-June. This is reported by Techcrunch.com reports .

According to an FAA statement, an incident occurred during the Starship Flight 12 mission involving the Super Heavy booster. After stage separation, problems arose while the booster was returning to the Gulf of Mexico. Officials noted that the incident caused no damage to public property and no injuries. SpaceX will now conduct this investigation under FAA oversight and must coordinate all corrective measures.

The problem occurred in the early minutes of the flight of the upgraded third version (V3) of the Starship system. Although the rocket passed the point of maximum dynamic pressure and reached space, a malfunction was observed in the engine performance after the booster separated from the ship. The burn intended for the return to the launch site in South Texas did not occur, and it is assumed that the booster lost control and exploded before hitting the water.

SpaceX had made numerous changes to this third version to make the rocket more reliable, including the installation of next-generation Raptor engines. However, one of the six Raptor engines on the ship itself also failed during the flight. The success of the Starship project is critical for the company, as it is a key factor in expanding the Starlink service and reducing the costs of space transport.