The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has closed the investigation into the failure of a Starship rocket booster during its previous test, and SpaceX can now carry out flight test number 13 from its facility in Texas after making technical and operational modifications to address the causes that led to the booster falling and exploding in the Gulf of Mexico.

Five engines did not work during landing

According to a report published by Reuters, 5 out of 33 Raptor-type engines failed to reignite during an attempt to slow down the Super Heavy booster. The booster suffered thermal damage during the separation of the vehicle and took an unexpected position. Incorrect settings in the engine warning system contributed to the accident. SpaceX has identified four corrective actions for the booster, along with hardware and operational modifications to address the poor performance of one of the upper engines.

Starlink V3 satellites enter testing

The new flight will carry 20 actual Starlink V3 satellites for the first time instead of experimental models. The satellites will deploy their solar panels and antennas after launch. Some of them also carry sensors to monitor the vehicle's heat shield during its return before burning up in the atmosphere. SpaceX is betting on starting regular launches of this generation of satellites by the end of 2026, having spent more than $15 billion on the Starship program.