FAA closes review of SpaceX Starship booster failure, clearing next test flight

According to CNBC, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Monday closed its review of a SpaceX Starship Super Heavy booster return failure during a May 22 flight test, clearing the company to launch its next test flight from Texas as soon as this week. The May 22 mission was Starship’s 12th test since April 2023 and introduced a new version that SpaceX expects to be central to its satellite launch business and lunar astronaut plans. The Super Heavy booster successfully launched Starship toward the Indian Ocean but failed to complete a controlled soft landing in the Gulf of Mexico after five engines did not ignite and it hit the water at high speed and exploded. The regulator said SpaceX’s mishap report cited heat damage during ascent and erroneous engine alarm system settings, and that the company identified four corrective actions.