Elon Musk’s SpaceX must keep its Starship Super Heavy rocket grounded, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed on Friday, saying the company needs to take 63 corrective actions before it is cleared for another test flight.
With its statement, the FAA has concluded its probe into the April launch that saw the rocket explode mid-flight.
The agency announced that the final report “cites multiple root causes of the April 20, 2023, mishap and 63 corrective actions SpaceX must take to prevent mishap reoccurrence,” CNBC reported.
The corrective actions required by the FAA include redesigns of vehicle hardware to prevent leaks and fires, redesign of the launch pad to increase its robustness, incorporation of additional reviews in the design process, additional analysis and testing of safety critical systems and components including the Autonomous Flight Safety System and, the application of additional change control practices.
The media outlet also noted that a full mishap investigation report will not be made public because it contains sensitive data including US export control information.
The test flight and explosion sent concrete debris into nearby tanks and other equipment, sparking a four-acre fire on state park land and impacted sensitive habitat that is home to some endangered wildlife.
The Starship program is a big part of the future of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite business, which provides internet service to more than 50 countries.
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