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Friday, Jan 16, 2026
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US Grounds SpaceX's Starship Following Test Flight Explosion
Federal investigation launched after Starship's upper stage disintegrates mid-flight, impacting air travel and initiating safety protocols.
In a dramatic turn of events, SpaceX's Starship rocket has been grounded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following its explosive test flight on Thursday.
The upper stage of the Starship disintegrated mid-air over the Caribbean, prompting a halt to further test flights pending an investigation.
The test flight, which took off from Boca Chica, Texas, was an uncrewed mission aiming to push the capabilities of SpaceX's latest rocket version.
At a towering 123 meters, the Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built and is central to CEO Elon Musk's ambitious plans for Martian colonization.
The initial launch sequence appeared successful as the Starship and its Super Heavy booster parted ways approximately four minutes into the flight.
However, communication with the Starship's upper stage was lost shortly thereafter, leading to a 'rapid unscheduled disassembly'—a term SpaceX uses to describe mishaps such as this.
The fallout from the explosion was significant, with debris reportedly seen over the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The FAA was quick to activate a 'debris response area', ensuring aircraft either rerouted or were held outside the affected zone.
Some aircraft had to divert due to low fuel levels, underscoring the broader implications of such incidents on international air travel.
Elon Musk, commenting on SpaceX's social media platform X, attributed the explosion to a potential 'oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall'.
Despite the setback, Musk indicated that there is no immediate concern for delaying the next launch cycle.
The Starship's mishap occurs in the context of heightened competition in the private space industry, as Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin had its own test with the new Glenn rocket system on the same day.
Blue Origin's debut was mixed; while the rocket achieved orbit, the booster met a destructive end in the Atlantic.
Amidst these high-stakes advancements, NASA remains keen on leveraging the Starship for its Artemis lunar missions, aimed at revisiting the moon later this decade.
This mission is part of a strategy to solidify US leadership in the new era of space exploration.
As investigations continue, the FAA will work closely with SpaceX to determine the cause and future viability of the Starship.
This industry's characteristic risk underscores the complexities and challenges involved in advancing human space travel.
But for now, SpaceX must navigate the regulatory and technical hurdles that lie ahead before it can resume its journey toward the stars.
The upper stage of the Starship disintegrated mid-air over the Caribbean, prompting a halt to further test flights pending an investigation.
The test flight, which took off from Boca Chica, Texas, was an uncrewed mission aiming to push the capabilities of SpaceX's latest rocket version.
At a towering 123 meters, the Starship is the most powerful rocket ever built and is central to CEO Elon Musk's ambitious plans for Martian colonization.
The initial launch sequence appeared successful as the Starship and its Super Heavy booster parted ways approximately four minutes into the flight.
However, communication with the Starship's upper stage was lost shortly thereafter, leading to a 'rapid unscheduled disassembly'—a term SpaceX uses to describe mishaps such as this.
The fallout from the explosion was significant, with debris reportedly seen over the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The FAA was quick to activate a 'debris response area', ensuring aircraft either rerouted or were held outside the affected zone.
Some aircraft had to divert due to low fuel levels, underscoring the broader implications of such incidents on international air travel.
Elon Musk, commenting on SpaceX's social media platform X, attributed the explosion to a potential 'oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall'.
Despite the setback, Musk indicated that there is no immediate concern for delaying the next launch cycle.
The Starship's mishap occurs in the context of heightened competition in the private space industry, as Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin had its own test with the new Glenn rocket system on the same day.
Blue Origin's debut was mixed; while the rocket achieved orbit, the booster met a destructive end in the Atlantic.
Amidst these high-stakes advancements, NASA remains keen on leveraging the Starship for its Artemis lunar missions, aimed at revisiting the moon later this decade.
This mission is part of a strategy to solidify US leadership in the new era of space exploration.
As investigations continue, the FAA will work closely with SpaceX to determine the cause and future viability of the Starship.
This industry's characteristic risk underscores the complexities and challenges involved in advancing human space travel.
But for now, SpaceX must navigate the regulatory and technical hurdles that lie ahead before it can resume its journey toward the stars.
