SpaceX Conducts Mishap Probe After Starship V3 Booster Failure

BOCA CHICA, Texas — SpaceX is conducting a formal mishap investigation into the May 22 Starship Flight 12 launch after the Federal Aviation Administration determined that the anomalous performance of the Super Heavy booster constituted a mishap under federal commercial launch regulations — a review that must be completed before the company can attempt its next Starship flight.

The flight, which lifted off from Orbital Launch Pad 2 at Starbase on May 22, 2026 at 10:30 p.m. CDT, marked the debut of the Starship Version 3 vehicle and the first use of SpaceX's new Raptor 3 engines. While the Starship upper stage, Ship 39, completed its suborbital trajectory and splashed down in the Indian Ocean as planned, the Super Heavy booster — Booster 19 — experienced a series of engine anomalies that prevented it from returning to the launch site.

What Happened During Flight 12

Approximately one minute and 42 seconds into the ascent, one of B19's 33 Raptor V3 engines shut down. Less than a minute later, at the 2:22 mark, SpaceX began intentionally stepping down engine thrust as the vehicle approached stage separation. Following separation, Booster 19 executed its directional flip maneuver and attempted to ignite its center engines for the boostback burn — but only a partial burn was achieved before an early shutdown.

Without a successful boostback burn to redirect its trajectory, B19 was unable to execute the landing burn needed for a controlled return to the launch site. The booster experienced a hard splashdown in the Gulf of America rather than a propulsive landing at Starbase.

FAA Declares Mishap, Investigation Begins

Five days after the flight, on May 27, the FAA issued a statement declaring B19's off-nominal performance a mishap under 14 CFR Part 450, the federal regulation governing commercial launch licenses. The agency identified the booster's failure to complete its launch as planned as a triggering condition for a formal review.

"The FAA is requiring SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation," the agency said. "The FAA will oversee the SpaceX-led investigation, be involved in every step of the process, and approve SpaceX's final report, including any corrective actions."

No public injuries or damage to public property were reported. The investigation is focused on the Raptor 3 engine performance on both the booster and the ship upper stage, which also experienced the loss of one Raptor Vacuum engine during flight — though the FAA did not identify the ship engine issue as a primary driver of the investigation.

Raptor 3 Under the Microscope

Flight 12 was the first flight of the Raptor 3 engine, a next-generation design that SpaceX has said is more powerful and simpler than its predecessors. The engine anomalies on both the booster and the ship upper stage place Raptor 3's early performance record under scrutiny, and SpaceX is expected to review engine manufacturing and quality control data as part of its investigation.

SpaceX has hardware in flow for Flight 13, which is expected to use Ship 40 and Booster 20. The company has noted that at least 10 Raptor engines were transferred from B20 to B19 ahead of Flight 12, following a 10-engine static fire test in March that ended early due to a ground-side issue. That engine transfer history will likely be part of the review.

Path to Flight 13

SpaceX had been targeting June 30 for the Starship Flight 13 attempt, which was expected to use the Starship V3 vehicle for a more ambitious suborbital profile. The mishap investigation requirement does not automatically rule out that timeline, but it does create a dependency: SpaceX must complete the investigation, submit its findings, and receive FAA approval of corrective actions before a new launch license modification can be issued.

Given the complexity of the Raptor 3 engine review and the FAA's involvement at every step, a late-June window would require the investigation to conclude quickly. SpaceX has completed similar post-mishap reviews in as little as a few weeks in the past, and the company has strong institutional experience navigating the FAA review process from earlier Starship mishap investigations following Flights 7, 8, and 9.

A Temporary Setback on a Long Road

Mishap investigations are a routine part of SpaceX's Starship development program, and each review has ultimately led to design improvements that made subsequent flights more successful. The Flight 12 anomaly narrows the scope of what Flight 13 can attempt — catching the booster with the tower's mechanical arms now appears unlikely given B20's unproven status — but SpaceX's long-term Starship trajectory remains intact.

The company's S-1 IPO prospectus, filed ahead of its June 12 Nasdaq debut, explicitly cited Starship's development as central to its growth strategy, including deployment of next-generation Starlink V3 satellites planned for the second half of 2026. A resolution to the investigation and a successful Flight 13 would be significant milestones for both the company's technical program and its newly public stock.