The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated that SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, and Blue Origin, established by Jeff Bezos, investigate the issues that arose during their recent mega-rocket test flights this week.
The regulatory body informed both companies that they need to conduct a “mishap investigation.” This process involves collaboration between the companies and the FAA to determine what went wrong, the underlying causes of the incidents, and what corrective measures can be taken. In both situations, the FAA must approve any further launches before the rockets can be deployed again; however, the timeline for this approval is currently uncertain.
For SpaceX, its seventh test of the Starship rocket system concluded in an explosion shortly after launch from Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday. Musk reported on X that the Starship experienced over-pressurization due to excess gas during ascent, which ultimately led to its explosion. The company’s official statement on its website noted that a fire ignited inside the vessel.
The explosion generated debris that illuminated the skies over the Turks and Caicos Islands, causing the FAA to halt and reroute some nearby flights due to low fuel reserves. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries, but the FAA stated it is coordinating with SpaceX to “verify claims of public property damage in Turks and Caicos.”
SpaceX and the FAA appear to have differing views on a specific aspect of the explosion. The FAA activated a “Debris Response Area,” which it claims is initiated only when spacecraft parts land outside predefined hazard zones prior to launch. However, SpaceX asserts on its website that “[a]ny surviving pieces of debris would have landed in the designated hazard area.”
Before SpaceX’s launch, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket made its inaugural ascent from Cape Canaveral, Florida. While the upper stage successfully reached orbit, the booster was destroyed during its descent in an attempt to land on a drone ship at sea.
The FAA noted that it is “aware of an anomaly occurring during the Blue Origin” mission, and confirmed that there were no injuries or damage to public property reported.
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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