FAA grounds SpaceX Starship launches after booster mishap during test flight
By
Marcia Dunn
A good honest bake. Not flashy, but you'll finish the whole bagel.
Summary
SpaceX's Starship launches have been grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pending an investigation into a mishap during last week's test flight. The 407-foot mega rocket blasted off from Texas, and while the first-stage booster separated normally, its engines failed during the return to Earth, resulting in a hard landing in the Gulf of Mexico instead of a controlled splashdown. No injuries or property damage were reported. The rocket is SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's largest and most powerful Starship yet.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that the hourlong spaceflight resulted in a mishap based on the performance of the mega rocket's first-stage booster.
Minutes after Starship blasted off from Texas on Friday, the booster separated as normal but engines conked out as it made its way back to Earth.
Instead of a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, the booster came in hard.
The FAA says there were no reports of injury or property damage.
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