FAA orders SpaceX to investigate Starship landing mishap

Space
28 May 2026 • 7:27 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

FAA orders SpaceX to investigate Starship landing mishap

  • SpaceX's Starship rocket has been grounded after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flagged an anomaly during its 22 May test flight.
  • The FAA classified an issue with the Super Heavy booster's landing in the Gulf of Mexico as a “mishap”, necessitating an investigation.
  • Only one of the booster's 33 engines ignited during its splashdown, leading to a heavy impact with the water.
  • No further Starship flights will be permitted until the FAA approves any corrective actions resulting from the investigation.
  • The Starship, the world's biggest rocket, is crucial for NASA's Artemis programme to return humans to the Moon, with its delays impacting the mission timeline.

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