FAA Grounds SpaceX Starship V3 After Mishap During Flight 12
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded SpaceX's Starship V3 following a mishap during its Flight 12 launch on May 22, 2026. The incident involved the Super Heavy booster, which experienced engine failures during its return to the Gulf of Mexico, leading to a crash landing. The FAA has classified the event as a mishap, requiring SpaceX to conduct a thorough investigation before any further launches can occur. Despite the booster failure, the upper stage of the Starship successfully completed its mission objectives, including deploying Starlink mass simulators and achieving a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean. 
