FAA Clears Starship to Resume Flights, Authorizes IFT-13 for July 16

The FAA authorized SpaceX to resume Starship test flights on July 13, 2026, closing out the mishap investigation into the May 22 IFT-12 booster failure. Investigators identified two probable root causes: heat effects on propulsion system components during ascent, and erroneous engine alarm system settings that caused Booster 19 to fail to properly reignite its engines after stage separation, triggering an unintended 90-degree rotation and loss of the booster. SpaceX implemented corrective modifications to engine reignition sequencing and alarm thresholds, clearing the way for IFT-13 — flying Booster 20 and Ship 40 — to attempt launch as early as July 16.