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FAA Demanding Investigation After SpaceX Starship Breaks up in Flight
- SpaceX launched its ninth Starship test flight from Texas on May 27, 2025, which ended with the rocket breaking apart over the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
- The flight, lasting about 46 minutes, followed two earlier failed demos and involved a deliberately extreme test approved by the FAA, with a recycled first-stage booster used.
- During descent, the booster spun out and rapidly disassembled about six minutes after launch over the Gulf of Mexico, while the upper stage experienced an attitude control error and broke apart before splashdown.
- The FAA confirmed no injuries or public damage occurred, all debris fell within designated hazard zones, and it will oversee SpaceX’s investigation required before future Starship launches.
- The investigation reflects the importance of Starship for NASA’s planned lunar landings and Elon Musk’s objective to accelerate test flights en route to Mars missions.
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FAA demanding investigation after SpaceX Starship breaks up in flight
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is asking SpaceX for an investigation into this week’s Starship test flight that ended up spinning out of control and breaking apart. The FAA said the Starship’s vehicle and booster debris landed within the designated hazard areas and there were no reports of injuries or damage to public property during…
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