On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) put a temporary halt to SpaceX's Starship rocket operations after a test flight concluded with an explosive twist just minutes into liftoff, ultimately crashing into the Gulf of Mexico.
Launching from Boca Chica, Texas, the colossal rocket - propelled by 33 Raptor engines - dramatically disintegrated mid-flight, around four minutes after takeoff. Notably, the Starship carried no passengers or satellites during this initial trial.
As part of standard safety measures, the FAA will keep the rockets grounded while conducting a thorough investigation. The agency seeks to verify that "any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety," according to their official statement.
