The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States stated on Friday that it will delay the SpaceX Starship rocket’s launch until an investigation is conducted by Elon Musk’s company into the disintegration of the upper module during its recent test flight over the Caribbean.
SpaceX must conduct an “accident investigation” as per the procedure, which involves identifying necessary corrective actions. The FAA will review this investigation before allowing the launch vehicle to fly again.
SpaceX can ask for permission to launch again after demonstrating that it has implemented safety measures and that the incident did not pose a risk to the public.
The FAA has requested that SpaceX perform an inquiry into the incident involving the Starship vehicle that occurred on January 16 during launch activities.
There are no reports of injuries among the residents, and the FAA is collaborating with SpaceX and local authorities to verify claims of damage to public property in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The agency stated that a “Destroy Response Area” protocol was activated temporarily during the event to slow down or halt aircraft outside the area where the debris was descending.
Multiple planes asked to change course because they were running low on fuel but were not in the affected areas.
The Starship is the biggest and most potent spacecraft ever constructed, playing a crucial role in Musk’s plans to settle on Mars.
The US space agency Nasa plans to employ an adapted rocket for its Artemis manned missions to the moon.
Thursday’s unmanned launch was the seventh orbital test for Starship, and it was the first to use an upgraded version of the rocket.