FAA Grounds Starship V3 Over Super Heavy Booster Mishap
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded SpaceX's new Starship V3 launch vehicle just days after its debut flight. Although the upper stage performed admirably during the test, the first-stage Super Heavy booster failed in its attempted controlled splashdown, and the FAA wants this investigated before clearing the rocket to fly again.
Starship V3 is the largest version of the super-heavy launch vehicle yet, and the most powerful rocket ever created. Using all 33 of its new Raptor engines, the 124-meter rocket launched from SpaceX's Starbase, Texas, facility on May 22. It successfully completed stage separation, sending the upper stage off to complete its sub-orbital goals and eventual controlled splashdown. However, the Super Heavy booster suffered a serious mishap.
Shortly after separation, when SpaceX attempted to re-light all 33 of the Super Heavy booster's engines, only 29 lit, and Engine E6 exploded, knocking out the Raptors near it. The...
Copyright of this story solely belongs to extremetech.com. To see the full text click HERE
