The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded SpaceX’s prototype Starship rocket and ordered Elon Musk’s company to “investigate the accident” before resuming operations.
The spacecraft disintegrated dramatically over the Caribbean on Thursday in what the company called “rapid undetermined disintegration.” In other words, a massive explosion.
In a statement, the FAA said it was “working with SpaceX and appropriate authorities to confirm reports of damage to public property [the islands of] Turks and Caicos.”
Earlier on Friday, Musk said there were preliminary indications that leaked fuel created pressure in the cavity above the engine firewall, causing the Starship to break up during liftoff and leave a trail of flaming debris.
Dramatic video taken near the Turks and Caicos Islands shows spacecraft debris raining down from the sky like a fireball.
The FAA said it briefly activated “debris response area” protocols to slow the aircraft outside that area or stop the aircraft at its departure point.
“Many aircraft requested diversion due to low fuel levels while outside the affected areas,” it said.
SpaceX has promised a “thorough investigation” in coordination with the FAA.
Starship is the largest, most powerful rocket ever built, and is key to Musk’s ambitions to colonize Mars.
NASA also hopes to use a modified version of the rocket as a human lunar lander for its Artemis mission to return to the Moon.
MF/RC (AFP, AP)
