FAA Grounds World's Biggest Rocket, Elon Musk Ordered to Complete Corrective Actions

By The Associated Press September 8, 2023 at 8:38am

SpaceX must take a series of steps before it can launch its mega-rocket again after its April debut ended in an explosion, federal regulators have ruled.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it closed its investigation into SpaceX’s failed debut of Starship, the world’s biggest rocket.

The agency is requiring SpaceX to take 63 corrective actions and to apply for a modified FAA license before launching again.

FAA officials said multiple problems led to the launch explosion, which sent pieces of concrete and metal hurtling for thousands of feet and created a plume of pulverized concrete that spread for miles around.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said in the accident’s aftermath that he improved the 394-foot rocket and strengthened the launch pad.

A new Starship is on the redesigned pad, awaiting liftoff. It will fly empty, as before.

pic.twitter.com/9THX2Zp2ur

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 6, 2023

Musk said in a social media post on Sept. 8 that “[t]housands of upgrades” were being made.

Thousands of upgrades to Starship & launchpad/Mechazilla https://t.co/AZaOuLLet4

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 8, 2023

During the initial test flight, the rocketship had to be destroyed after it tumbled out of control shortly after liftoff from Boca Chica Beach in Texas.

The wreckage crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.

SpaceX said fuel leaks during ascent caused fires to erupt at the tail of the rocket, severing connection with the main flight computer and leading to a loss of control.

That flight “provided numerous lessons learned,” the company said in a statement.

NASA wants to use Starship to land astronauts back on the moon in another few years.

Musk’s ultimate goal is to build a fleet of Starships to carry people and supplies to Mars.

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