SpaceX’s Starship rocket was grounded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following a dramatic explosion during its test flight over the Caribbean on January 16. The FAA requires SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation into the incident, which involved the disintegration of the upper stage.
According to the FAA, there are no reports of public injury, but some reports suggest that property damage occurred in Turks and Caicos. To mitigate potential risks, SpaceX briefly activated its “Debris Response Area” protocol, diverting several aircraft outside the area where debris was falling.
The Starship rocket is a critical component in Elon Musk’s ambitious plans to colonize Mars. NASA also hopes to utilize a modified version of the rocket for its Artemis missions to return to the Moon. The incident marks a setback for SpaceX, which has been showcasing its technical capabilities with recent successful launches.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/01/17/u-s-grounds-spacexs-starship-rocket-after-part-of-it-exploded