UNITED STATES: The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded SpaceX’s Starship following claims that the debris plumes from its explosive first launch may have spread potentially hazardous materials over homes and endangered habitats.
The FAA is conducting a “mishap investigation” into Starship’s April 20 test launch, after which the rocket exploded in mid-air around four minutes later.
Dust and debris from the launch are said to have rained down on residents in Port Isabel, Texas, and over Boca Chica’s beaches, which are nesting grounds for endangered animals.
SpaceX’s launchpad suffered extensive damage, with concrete shooting out into the ocean and a hole punched in the launchpad with a crater beneath it.
The debris spread far further than anticipated, with broken windows reported in local businesses and ash-like particles covering homes and schools.
The FAA’s “anomaly response plan” has come into force, requiring SpaceX to complete extra “environmental mitigations” before reapplying for its launch licence.
The investigation needs to conclude that Starship does not affect public safety before it can launch again.
The FAA has stopped SpaceX from conducting further launches until this investigation is complete.
The investigation is standard practise when rockets go astray, and SpaceX has reportedly been working on a massive water-cooled steel plate to go under the launch mount.
Standing tall at 120 metres and propelled by a record-breaking 7.5 million kilogrammes of thrust, SpaceX’s Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built.
SpaceX designed the massive rocket to transport crew members, spacecraft, satellites, and cargo to locations in the solar system.
Despite the rocket’s explosive first launch, SpaceX and its founder, Elon Musk, have hailed the test as a success that enabled engineers to gather essential data for the next launch.
Musk has warned that this is just the beginning of a long journey that requires many flights.
The rocket’s engines caused Starship to flip and roll, leading SpaceX to order it to self-destruct.
The company hopes to have Starship ready to launch again in one to two months.
The FAA’s mishap investigation is crucial in ensuring public safety before future launches of Starship.
SpaceX has been working hard to ensure the launchpad is safe and has implemented environmental mitigations to prevent debris from spreading too far.
As the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, the Starship has the potential to revolutionise space travel, but it has to ensure safety and responsibility to ensure its success.
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