The FAA declared SpaceX’s May 22 Starship test flight a mishap on May 27, ordering SpaceX to investigate why the Super Heavy booster failed during Flight 12 — the first launch of the upgraded V3 configuration. According to the FAA statement provided to TechCrunch, the incident involved the booster after stage separation, with no reported public injuries or property damage. TechCrunch reported that the booster failed to execute the sustained engine burn needed to fly back toward the Starbase launch site in South Texas, instead tumbling toward the Gulf of Mexico and likely exploding on impact. Starship itself also lost one of its six Raptor engines after separating from the booster, leading SpaceX to scrap a planned orbital burn. The V3 Starship’s upper stage did complete a controlled ocean splashdown off western Australia as intended. Starship remains grounded until SpaceX completes its investigation and the FAA approves the final report and any corrective actions.
The grounding arrives at an awkward moment: SpaceX filed its IPO paperwork on May 20, with a listing expected in mid-June, and its S-1 discloses that Starlink’s continued growth is contingent on Starship becoming reliable and reusable. SpaceX engineered sweeping changes into the V3 — including a redesigned booster, all-new third-generation Raptor engines, and ship-level upgrades — specifically to improve on the reliability record of the previous 11 test flights. The company is no stranger to FAA-mandated investigations during Starship’s development; a similar order grounded its Falcon 9 workhorse for four days in February before flights resumed. Blue Origin’s competing heavy-lift rocket New Glenn was separately cleared by the FAA to fly again last week, with a fourth launch attempt expected within the coming month.