The Federal Aviation Administration is the ordered SpaceX to conduct an accident investigation what causes the company’s Starship rocket explodes in mid-flight on January 16. Until the FAA approves the investigation SpaceX reported, the company will not be allowed to proceed with future Starship missions.

The SpaceX launch was as planned before the explosion. The Starship successfully exited the launch pad and SpaceX even retrieved the ship’s boosters. But then, only eight and a half minutes after take off, the Starship spacecraft exploded, according to SpaceX’s post-launch blog post. In response to the sudden explosion, the FAA activated a “Debris Response Area” and slowed or diverted nearby flights to avoid further accidents, severe flight delays from multiple airlines, according to CNBC.

The FAA statement said no one was injured by falling debris but it was working “to confirm reports of damage to public property in Turks and Caicos.” The investigation into the accident carried out by SpaceX should determine not only what caused the explosion, but also what corrective actions the company should take to prevent it from happening again. “Initial data indicates a fire has developed in the rear of the ship,” SpaceX said.

This isn’t the first time a Starship has met an explosive end. Many Starship launches have been completed by either SpaceX boostersTHE Starship spacecraft or BOTH exploded. The company seems to be getting better at capturing and reusing its Super Heavy boosters, though. The successful capture that preceded the January 16 explosion was only the second time SpaceX had pulled it off. The first successfully captured Super Heavy was in October 2024.