The United States has grounded SpaceX's massive Starship rocket to investigate the recent explosion during a test flight. The rocket's upper stage broke apart over the Caribbean after lifting off from Texas, causing airlines to change flight paths to avoid falling debris.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is collaborating with SpaceX to verify reports of damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with no injuries reported. SpaceX has been instructed by the aviation regulator to conduct a "mishap" investigation before potential approval to resume flights.
The Starship, hailed as the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed, plays a crucial role in Elon Musk's goal of colonizing Mars. The recent uncrewed test flight, the seventh for the Starship and the first for an enhanced version, aimed for a controlled ocean splashdown.
While the flight proceeded as planned initially, with successful separation of the upper stage from the Super Heavy booster, communication was lost later. The Super Heavy booster returned as expected, resulting in praise from ground control, but SpaceX later confirmed the upper stage experienced an unexpected disassembly.
Musk mentioned on social media that initial findings point to an oxygen/fuel leak as a probable cause. Despite the setback, Musk indicated no plans to delay the next launch, emphasizing the ongoing mission to advance space exploration.
The Starship system, comprising the Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket, stands at 123m (403ft) tall and is designed to be fully reusable, with potential applications from lunar landings to long-distance travel to Mars. The recent Starship test launch coincided with Blue Origin's inaugural New Glenn rocket flight, highlighting the rivalry between Bezos and Musk in the space industry.