SpaceX Rocket Explodes Mid-Flight, Scattering Debris for Second Consecutive Test
A SpaceX Starship rocket erupted shortly after liftoff in Texas on Thursday, temporarily grounding flights and prompting warnings about falling debris.
A SpaceX Starship rocket suffered a catastrophic failure just minutes after launch, marking the second consecutive test flight to end in an explosion. The uncrewed spacecraft lost stability and communication before breaking apart in mid-air, with fiery fragments reportedly raining down over parts of the Caribbean.
SpaceX confirmed the failure, describing it as a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" during ascent. The company assured the public that no injuries or property damage had been reported, and that all debris should have landed within a designated area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted flights at multiple Florida airports, including those in Miami and Orlando, as a precautionary measure due to potential hazards from falling wreckage.
The Starship system, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built at 123 meters (403 feet) tall, was intended to complete a one-hour orbital flight, re-entering Earth’s atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. Its Super Heavy booster successfully detached and returned to the launchpad, but the spacecraft itself lost multiple engines and failed to complete its mission.
SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, announced that it had already begun working with safety officials on "pre-planned contingency responses." The company also stated that it would analyze flight data to determine the root cause of the failure, emphasizing that each test provides valuable insights for future missions.
“As always, success comes from what we learn, and today's flight will offer additional lessons to improve Starship’s reliability,” the statement read. SpaceX provided contact information for anyone who might discover debris from the failed launch.
This latest mishap follows a similar failure in January, when another Starship rocket exploded shortly after launch. That incident led the FAA to ground future launches and investigate property damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Despite the ongoing investigation into the January failure, SpaceX proceeded with Thursday’s test.
Reports from the Bahamas and other Caribbean nations indicated that residents sought shelter as debris descended from the sky. Video footage posted on social media appeared to capture fiery remnants of the spacecraft falling into the sea.
NASA has plans to use a modified version of the Starship vehicle for its Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon. Meanwhile, Musk envisions Starship as the foundation for interplanetary travel, including eventual crewed missions to Mars.
The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands confirmed ongoing discussions with U.S. authorities and SpaceX to ensure public safety and keep residents informed about potential hazards.
SpaceX commentator Dan Huot acknowledged the repeated failures but maintained optimism. "Unfortunately, this happened last time too, so we have some practice at this now," he told reporters at the launch site.
Despite the setback, SpaceX remains committed to refining the Starship system, which is designed to be fully reusable and central to Musk’s ambitious space exploration goals. The company is expected to conduct further testing after analyzing the latest failure.
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