SpaceX automatically does an in depth investigation when anything goes even slightly wrong because their program is too important to them to allow a problem to replicate across everything they pretty much mass produce. And there’s a reason they call these test flights. A simulator or only testing on earth is unlikely to give them as much information quickly as actually testing where it’s expected to fly. That Version 2 Ship is still having growing pains is not totally unexpected once it only got to space for the first time but would think lessons learned will be applied to Version 3 as applicable. Losing the booster was an acceptable risk to test it’s limits since it already proved reflight and a controlled flip. They’ll be going to a Version 2 soon anyway so weren’t planning on another reuse. Their approved flight plan included the risks and areas on earth they were aiming to come down in, one way or another.

Instead of making demands like they’re dealing with a naughty child, a simple request to include their investigation results before or with their next flight approval request should have been enough. Not like they actually always finish figuring out what SpaceX sends them and closing their file on the mishap before allowing the next flight.

Ray Van Dune: While is it true that the FAA has required a mishap investigation after each Starship/Superheavy test launch, it has NOT promptly accepted SpaceX’s findings and corrective actions after each report. During the Biden years, it would spend anywhere from one to three months retyping SpaceX’s report into its own, making believe it was doing something when all it was really doing was slow-walking SpaceX because Biden and the Democrats didn’t like the fact that Elon Musk opposed them politically.

Since the election, the FAA has suddenly found that retyping unnecessary (I am shocked, SHOCKED) and have issued the launch license within days (or less) after SpaceX finished its investigation.

My what a difference an election makes.

People just don’t get this.