Elon Musk’s ambitious space program faced a major setback as Starship broke apart in space, forcing airlines to divert flights.
Starship’s Flight Ends in Fiery Explosion
SpaceX’s latest Starship test ended in failure on Thursday when the rocket broke apart in space just minutes after launching from Texas. The upper stage of the spacecraft, which had received major upgrades and was carrying its first test payload of mock satellites, suffered a critical anomaly, causing mission control to lose communication with the vehicle eight minutes into the flight.
Video footage captured by Reuters showed bright orange debris streaking across the sky over Port-au-Prince, Haiti, leaving behind thick trails of smoke.
“We did lose all communications with the ship – that is essentially telling us we had an anomaly with the upper stage,” SpaceX Communications Manager Dan Huot confirmed. Minutes later, SpaceX declared the mission a failure.
Impact on Air Traffic and FAA Response
The explosion caused immediate disruptions to air travel, with dozens of commercial flights forced to alter course or delay departures to avoid falling debris. FlightRadar24 reported that departures from Miami and Fort Lauderdale were delayed by approximately 45 minutes.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which oversees private space launches, briefly rerouted planes around the affected area before resuming normal operations. While the FAA regularly closes airspace for space missions, this incident led to the creation of a “debris response area” outside the initially restricted zone.
Elon Musk responded to the incident with a mix of optimism and humor, posting on X: “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!”
The Technical Failure and SpaceX’s Future Plans
The upper stage of this Starship version was a “new generation ship” with notable upgrades, standing 2 meters (6.56 feet) taller than previous models. It was originally scheduled for a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean about an hour after launch.
According to Musk, an internal liquid oxygen leak built up pressure within the rocket, ultimately causing the spacecraft to break apart mid-flight.
Despite the failure, Musk remains hopeful. “Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month,” he stated. However, the FAA is expected to launch a mishap investigation, which could temporarily ground the Starship program. If an investigation is opened, it may delay Musk’s ambitious goal of conducting 12 Starship tests in 2025.
This incident comes just a day after Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, successfully launched its New Glenn rocket into orbit for the first time, adding to the competitive tensions in the commercial space race.
Super Heavy Booster’s Successful Return
While the Starship upper stage was lost, the test wasn’t a complete failure. The Super Heavy booster, the massive first-stage rocket that powers Starship’s liftoff, successfully executed a controlled return to its launchpad just seven minutes after takeoff.
Using its Raptor engines, the booster slowed its descent and attached itself to SpaceX’s launch tower with mechanical arms—a maneuver SpaceX has been refining for future reusable rocket missions.
Musk vs. FAA: A Growing Tension
The failure adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing friction between Musk and the FAA. The billionaire, who has been critical of the agency, previously called for FAA Chief Mike Whitaker’s resignation after a SpaceX launch was delayed due to regulatory concerns.
With the possibility of another investigation into Thursday’s incident, tensions between SpaceX and the FAA could escalate further.
What’s Next for SpaceX?
Despite setbacks, SpaceX remains committed to developing Starship for deep-space exploration, including missions to Mars. With each test, the company gathers valuable data that will shape the future of space travel. However, the latest failure serves as a reminder that innovation often comes with setbacks.
Will SpaceX be able to fix these issues in time to meet its ambitious launch schedule? Only time will tell.
