The Federal Aviation Administration is ordering SpaceX to conduct an accident investigation in what caused the company's Starship rocket exploded mid-flight on January 16. Until the FAA approves SpaceX's reported investigation, the company will not be allowed to proceed with future Starship missions.
The SpaceX launch appears to be going as planned before the explosion. The Starship successfully exits the launch pad and SpaceX even retrieves the ship's boosters. But then, just eight and a half minutes after takeoff, the Starship spacecraft exploded, according to Post-launch blog post by SpaceX. In response to the sudden explosion, the FAA activated a “Debris Response Area” and slowed or diverted nearby flights to prevent further accidents, serious delays to flights from multiple airlines, according to CNBC.
The FAA statement said no one was injured by the falling debris but it was working “to confirm reports of damage to public property in Turks and Caicos.” The disaster investigation that SpaceX is conducting needs to determine not only what caused the explosion, but also what corrections the company needs to make to prevent it from happening again. “Initial data indicates a fire developed in the rear of the ship,” SpaceX said.
This isn't the first time Starship has had an explosive ending. Multiple Starship launches have been completed by either SpaceX boostersThe Starship spacecraft o both exploding The company appears to be getting better at capturing and reusing its Super Heavy boosters, however. The successful capture that preceded the Jan. 16 blast was only the second time SpaceX has pulled it off. Its first successful Super Heavy catch was in October 2024.
