SpaceX’s latest test of its giant Starship rocket failed just minutes after takeoff.
Texas Company officials stated that the upper stage was lost due to complications that arose shortly after lift-off from Texas on Thursday.
However, the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to its launch pad, prompting cheers from ground control teams.
This mission coincided with the maiden flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket system, funded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Tech billionaires Elon Musk and Bezos are competing for dominance in the rapidly expanding space vehicle market.
“Starship experienced a rapid, unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn. Teams will review data from today’s flight to understand the root cause,” SpaceX wrote on X.
“Success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help improve Starship’s reliability.”
Unverified social media footage appeared to show the rocket breaking up in flames, with orange lights streaking across the sky over Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
“Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!” Musk quipped on X, sharing a video of the fiery trail. He added that improved versions of the Starship and booster were “already waiting for launch.”
“Preliminary data suggests an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall caused pressure to exceed vent capacity,” Musk later explained. He indicated the next launch could proceed as early as next month.
The launch, which was streamed live on SpaceX’s platform, garnered 7.2 million views.
The Starship system launched from Boca Chica, Texas, at 22:38 GMT on its seventh test mission. The upper stage separated from the Super Heavy booster nearly four minutes into the flight, but contact with the ship was lost shortly after, according to SpaceX Communications Manager Dan Huot.
Despite the upper-stage failure, the booster’s safe return marked a partial success for the mission.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed an “anomaly” occurred during the test and briefly diverted aircraft in the area where debris was falling. Normal operations resumed shortly after.
This test came just one day after SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida, carrying two privately-built lunar landers and a micro rover to the Moon.
Meanwhile, Bezos’ Blue Origin marked a major milestone with the successful maiden flight of its New Glenn orbital rocket, a project years in the making.
