The FAA Launches Investigation Into SpaceX’s Seventh Starship Test

On 16 January 2025, SpaceX’s seventh Starship test took place and resulted in the rocket’s explosion over the Caribbean Sea. The explosion was recorded by residents of Turks and Caicos showing the falling flames of debris entering into the sea, hence attracting the FAA’s attention to the SpaceX launch.

FAA Demands An Investigative Report From SpaceX

Following the mishap surrounding the seventh Starship test conducted on 16 January 2025, the FAA is now investigating SpaceX. These investigations aim to understand the events surrounding the rocket’s crash and any possible damage to lives or properties.

From the video shared by ABC News, we can see the debris of the seventh Starship test falling from the sky. This crash prompted the FAA to activate a debris response area in the Turks and Caicos area.

By activating the debris response area, the FAA believes that the debris from the SpaceX seventh Starship test fell “outside of the identified closed aircraft hazard areas.” To ensure safety within the airspace around Turks and Caicos, the FAA “briefly slowed” or entirely “stopped aircraft at their departure location.”

For a better understanding of the cause of this crash, the FAA now requires SpaceX to investigate the event. This investigation will shed more light on what happened and why SpaceX lost control of the rocket after a successful lift-off, stage separation, and booster recapturing.

While there have been no reports of injuries from the falling debris, the FAA is still working with locals to uncover possible damages. As more details on this event are gathered, the FAA has grounded SpaceX until it can confirm the details of the space firm’s investigation.

SpaceX Speaks Up About The Crash Of Their Seventh Starship Test

SpaceX has released a detailed report on its official website regarding the events surrounding the crash of its seventh Starship test. From the reports, we learn that the test flight was going according to plan until the booster recapturing phase.

According to SpaceX, “telemetry was lost with the vehicle after approximately eight and a half minutes of flight.” The cause for this loss of contact with the space vehicle was identified to be a fire which broke out “in the aft section of the ship, leading to a rapid, unscheduled disassembly.”

Concerning the falling debris, SpaceX says that the “Starship flew within its designated launch corridor.” This is to help “safeguard the public both on the ground, on water and in the air” in any event of a malfunction of the space vehicle.

SpaceX goes on to say that any debris from the seventh Starship test flight conducted on 16 January 2025 “would have fallen into the designated hazard area.” The firm encourages residents of Turks and Caicos to contact their hotlines for collection of the debris.