FAA Approves SpaceX Falcon 9 Return After Mishap Review

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Friday that it had approved the return of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to flight following a review of the company’s investigation and corrective actions related to the September 28 mishap.

The FAA had grounded Falcon 9 after its second stage malfunctioned following a NASA astronaut mission, marking the third incident in three months. The malfunction led the booster to fall outside the designated safety zone in the Pacific Ocean.

Additionally, the FAA stated that it had closed investigations into Falcon 9 mishaps related to Starlink missions in July and August. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is now cleared to return to flight, starting with a European Space Agency mission scheduled for Monday from Florida.

Also Read: SpaceX’s Starship: FAA May Approve the Launch License Soon

Separately, earlier in the week, it was reported that the FAA might approve a launch license for SpaceX’s Starship 5 test flight as early as this month. Starship is a fully reusable system designed for missions to Earth’s orbit, the Moon, and beyond.

Starship 5 test flight as early as this month. Starship is a fully reusable system designed for missions to Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond.

Although the FAA previously projected a decision on the Starship license by late November, the agency now says it is still reviewing the mission. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has criticized the FAA for delays and proposed fines, has called for FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker’s resignation and threatened legal action.