The Federal Aviation Administration is ordering SpaceX to investigate accident on what drove the company’s Starship rocket to explode in mid-flight on January 16. Until the FAA approves SpaceX’s investigation, the company will not be allowed to continue future Starship missions.
The SpaceX launch appeared to be going as planned before the explosion. Starship successfully left the launch pad and SpaceX was even able to grab the ship’s thrusters. But then, just eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the Starship spacecraft exploded, according to SpaceX post-launch blog post. In response to the sudden explosion, the FAA activated a “Debris Response Zone” and slowed or diverted nearby flights to avoid further accidents, significantly delaying several airlines’ flights, according to CNBC.
The FAA statement said no one was injured by the falling debris but that it was working “to confirm reports of damage to public property in the Turks and Caicos Islands.” SpaceX’s accident investigation will need to determine not only the cause of the explosion, but also what corrective measures the company must take to prevent it from happening again. “Initial data indicates that a fire developed in the rear part of the ship,” says SpaceX.
This isn’t the first time Starship has had an explosive ending. Several Starship launches ended with SpaceX launch boostersTHE Spacecraft Or both explode. The company seems to be getting better at capturing and reusing its Super Heavy boosters, however. The successful capture that preceded the January 16 explosion is only the second time SpaceX has succeeded. His first successful Super Heavy capture was in October 2024.
