The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will oversee an investigation into the causes of the failed launch of SpaceX’s 122-meter Starship rocket. The industry regulator will ensure compliance with the FAA-approved accident investigation plan and other regulatory requirements.
Space reports this with reference to department account X. Starship launched from SpaceX’s Boca Chica base in Texas this Saturday.
The mission was supposed to end approximately 90 minutes after launch with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, but after 8 minutes contact with the ship was lost. A self-destruct order was sent to the ship from the flight control center.
Photo:
A little earlier, the first stage of the rocket after separation began to fall into the Gulf of Mexico, but during the descent it exploded in mid-air. The FAA has deemed the test result an accident and will oversee the investigation into its cause.
At the same time, SpaceX considered the latest launch successful:
“Frankly, this is an incredibly successful day, even though we had a rapid and unplanned dismantlement of both the Super Heavy launch vehicle and the vehicle,” SpaceX quality manager Kate Tice said during the broadcast. “We received a lot of data and all this will help us better prepare for the next launch.”
The FAA has already investigated the reasons for the failure of the launch of the Starship superheavy launch vehicle: in April 2023, the first test of the ship also ended ahead of schedule. The rocket then exploded in the sky at an altitude of 38 km, three minutes after launch.
Cover photo: X
Author:
Akhmed Sadulayev
Source: RB
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