WASHINGTON FAA grounds SpaceX Starship after mishap
PUBLISHED May 28, 2026, 6:05 AM ET
Read, Watch or Listen
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has grounded SpaceX’s Starship launch vehicle program following an inflight anomaly involving its Super Heavy first-stage booster during Flight 12. In a statement released after the May 22, 2026 test from Boca Chica, Texas, the FAA classified the booster’s landing failure as a flight mishap, triggering a mandatory investigative process. Regulators said the operation did not meet planned safety metrics during the recovery phase, despite a nominal liftoff and ascent through maximum aerodynamic pressure. Starship Flight 12 was the first operational test of the enlarged Version 3 configuration, a fully reusable, two-stage system standing 124 meters tall.
By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Friday, May 22, 2026 Starship Flight 12 launches
- Friday, May 22, 2026 Ascent phase remains within parameters
- Friday, May 22, 2026 Super Heavy booster landing attempt fails
- Later that day Telemetry confirms recovery phase anomaly
- Following days FAA reviews SpaceX Starship Flight 12
- This week FAA designates event a flight mishap
- This week FAA orders Starship program grounded
- Next steps Comprehensive technical investigation before resumption
News Intelligence
- SpaceX's Starship is a key player in future space travel plans. This grounding could delay those plans. If you're invested in SpaceX or the broader space industry, keep an eye on the investigation's outcome.
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