SpaceX's Starship rocket has been grounded following an anomaly during its most recent test flight on 22 May. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classified the incident as a mishap, triggering an investigation before any further launches can occur.
The flight saw the world's largest rocket lift off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas. While the second stage successfully performed a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean, the first stage Super Heavy booster encountered an issue during splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, with only one of its 33 engines igniting.
The FAA stated that a return to flight depends on determining that any systems or procedures related to the mishap do not affect public safety. Corrective actions must be approved by the regulator before another launch.
Starship, standing over 124 metres when fully stacked, is taller than NASA's Saturn V rocket. SpaceX plans to use it for crewed lunar missions under NASA's Artemis program, though delays have pushed the first landing to 2028.
