The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Friday that Elon Musk’s SpaceX must conduct more than 60 corrective actions before the next launch of its Starship Super Heavy rocket.
SpaceX must also keep its Starship rocket grounded until the 63 corrective actions are completed, the FAA said. The agency concluded its probe into the April 20 launch from Texas that resulted in Starship exploding after liftoff.
"Corrective actions 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 FAA said.
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SpaceX did not return FOX Business’ request for comment.
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SpaceX on Tuesday shared footage on X, the Elon Musk-owned social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that depicted a "fully stacked Starship on the launch pad at Starbase." The facility is located in Texas.
In addition to addressing the corrective actions the FAA identified as "impact[ing] public safety," the company must apply for and receive a license modification from the FAA "that addresses all safety, environmental and other applicable regulatory requirements," the agency said.
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