The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to conduct thorough investigations into their recent mega-rocket test flight mishaps. The regulator's move comes after both companies experienced significant issues during their respective test flights this week.

In the case of SpaceX, an explosion occurred during the seventh test-flight of its Starship rocket system, which launched from Boca Chica, Texas on Thursday. According to Elon Musk, the Starship itself became over-pressurized due to excess gas as it ascended into space, ultimately leading to the explosion. The company's official explanation suggests that the inside of the ship caught fire, resulting in the destruction of the spacecraft.

The explosion created a debris field that lit up the skies over the islands of Turks and Caicos, prompting the FAA to slow and even divert some flights in the nearby airspace due to low fuel levels. Fortunately, there are no reports of injuries, according to the FAA. However, the regulator is working with SpaceX to "confirm reports of public property damage on Turks and Caicos."

Notably, SpaceX and the FAA appear to be at odds over one particular detail about the explosion. The FAA technically activated a "Debris Response Area," which the administration says it only does if pieces of the spacecraft fall outside of hazard areas defined prior to a launch. SpaceX, on the other hand, insists that "[a]ny surviving pieces of debris would have fallen into the designated hazard area."

Hours before SpaceX's rocket launch, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida for the first time ever. While the upper stage of the New Glenn rocket successfully made it into orbit, the booster exploded on its way back down for an attempted landing on a drone ship at sea.

The FAA has acknowledged that an "anomaly occurred during the Blue Origin" mission, but no injuries or public property damage have been reported. The regulator will work closely with both companies to determine the root causes of these incidents and implement corrective actions before allowing the rockets to fly again.

The FAA's investigation process, known as a "mishap investigation," will involve collaboration between the regulator and the companies to understand what went wrong, why it went wrong, and how to prevent similar incidents in the future. The duration of this process is unclear, but it will ultimately determine when SpaceX and Blue Origin can resume their rocket testing and development programs.

The implications of these incidents and the subsequent investigations are significant, as they could impact the development timelines and commercialization plans of both companies. SpaceX, in particular, has been working towards establishing a human settlement on Mars, while Blue Origin is focused on developing a lunar lander for NASA's Artemis program. Any delays or setbacks could have far-reaching consequences for the space industry as a whole.

As the space industry continues to evolve and push the boundaries of innovation, incidents like these serve as a reminder of the complexities and risks involved in developing and launching advanced rocket systems. The FAA's oversight and investigation processes are critical in ensuring the safety of people and property, while also promoting a culture of transparency and accountability within the industry.