A SpaceX Starship rocket disintegrated in space shortly after launching from Texas on Thursday, disrupting air travel over the Gulf of Mexico and casting uncertainty over Elon Musk’s ambitious Mars-focused rocket programme.
The upgraded Starship, carrying its first test payload of mock satellites, lost communication with SpaceX mission control eight minutes into its flight. Liftoff occurred at 5:38 p.m. EST (2238 GMT) from South Texas. “We did lose all communications with the ship—that is essentially telling us we had an anomaly with the upper stage,” confirmed SpaceX Communications Manager Dan Huot.
Video footage captured the debris falling as orange streaks across the sky over Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Musk later acknowledged the incident on X, stating, “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!”
The rocket’s failure prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reroute commercial flights to avoid falling debris. FlightRadar24 reported dozens of planes altering course, while Miami and Fort Lauderdale departures faced delays of up to 45 minutes.
The FAA stated that normal operations had resumed after briefly establishing a “debris response area” to secure airspace around the crash zone. It is likely to open a mishap investigation, which could ground Starship launches temporarily, as it examines whether debris fell outside of the designated hazard zone or on populated areas.
Preliminary investigations revealed that an internal liquid oxygen leak likely caused a pressure build-up, leading to the rocket’s disintegration. The mishap jeopardises Musk’s goal of conducting 12 Starship tests this year, depending on how quickly SpaceX can address the issue and whether the FAA proceeds with a formal investigation.
Despite the setback, Musk remains optimistic, stating that there is no indication that the next launch will be delayed beyond next month.
The ill-fated flight marked the seventh test of the Starship system since 2023, part of Musk’s multibillion-dollar effort to develop a rocket capable of deploying large satellites and ferrying humans to Mars.
However, the failure came just a day after rival space company Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket into orbit, adding pressure to SpaceX’s programme.
The Starship upper stage, touted as a “new generation” design with significant upgrades, was expected to perform a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean an hour after launch. Meanwhile, the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to its launchpad, using mechanical arms to hook onto the launch tower.
Musk, who has been critical of the FAA’s regulatory processes, called for FAA chief Mike Whitaker’s resignation last year after delays to SpaceX launches. Whitaker, who announced plans to step down before President Donald Trump’s upcoming term, has not yet been replaced.
SpaceX’s approach of testing its rockets to failure has resulted in previous high-profile setbacks, but this latest failure occurred during a mission phase the company has previously executed successfully. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges in developing the world’s most powerful rocket system and its implications for the future of space exploration.
Melissa Enoch
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