SpaceX launches Starship rocket on third test flight

SpaceX and NASA may be busy cheering all the success achieved during Thursday’s mission, but in the eyes of the Federal Aviation Administration — which licenses commercial rocket launches — the loss of the Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft is still considered a setback that has to be thoroughly reviewed.

The FAA routinely oversees mishap investigations when spacecraft are lost during flight. And even though SpaceX knew going into the flight that Starship and Super Heavy likely wouldn’t survive, regulators still need to hash out what happened.

SpaceX and the FAA have had a sometimes contentious relationship, as SpaceX has said the agency’s reviews have taken longer than the company would like, delaying testing.