The U.S. has suspended launches of the largest Starship V3 rocket following an accident
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily suspended new launches of SpaceX's Starship V3 rocket pending the completion of an investigation into the accident that occurred during its first test flight.
This was reported by Space.com.
The first launch of the Starship V3 variant took place on May 23. During the mission, the rocket’s upper stage successfully reached orbit, deployed Starlink satellites and mock-ups, and, upon return, performed a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
However, the Super Heavy booster was unable to perform a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico due to engine problems and crashed hard into the water.
The Federal Aviation Administration classified the incident as an emergency that could pose a threat to public safety.
SpaceX has already begun a joint investigation with the U.S. regulator into the causes of the engine failure.
Despite the incident, the company considers the flight a success, as the new version of Starship confirmed its ability to reach orbit and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
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