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SpaceX Starship Rocket Breaks Apart Midflight, Disrupting Flights and Raising New Challenges

TEXAS: A SpaceX Starship rocket broke apart minutes after its launch from South Texas on Thursday, forcing airline flights over the Gulf of Mexico to reroute and creating a setback for Elon Musk's flagship space program.


The mishap occurred eight minutes after liftoff at 5:38 p.m. EST (2238 GMT), as SpaceX mission control lost communication with the newly upgraded Starship, which was carrying its first test payload of mock satellites. The rocket had no crew aboard.

Midflight Failure and Falling Debris

Video footage captured by Reuters showed bright orange streaks lighting up the sky over Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with trails of smoke following the disintegrating spacecraft. SpaceX Communications Manager Dan Huot confirmed the anomaly, stating, “We did lose all communications with the ship – that is essentially telling us we had an anomaly with the upper stage.” Minutes later, SpaceX confirmed the loss of the vehicle.

Preliminary assessments indicated that an internal leak of liquid oxygen fuel caused a pressure buildup, leading to the rocket's disintegration.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by temporarily diverting and delaying dozens of commercial flights to ensure safety from falling debris. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 reported delays in departures from airports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with some flights rerouted to avoid the affected airspace.

Impact on SpaceX’s Ambitious Goals

The failure marked a significant challenge for Musk’s ambitious space exploration plans. SpaceX aims to conduct at least 12 Starship tests this year, but this setback could delay future launches, particularly if the FAA launches a mishap investigation. The FAA has previously grounded Starship following such incidents to ensure public safety and compliance with regulations.

Despite the setback, Musk expressed optimism on social media, sharing a video of the debris field and quipping, “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!”

Starship’s Role in Space Exploration

The Starship upper stage, a new-generation spacecraft with significant upgrades, was taller than previous versions and designed to carry humans and cargo to Mars. Thursday’s mission was its seventh test since 2023 and part of Musk’s multibillion-dollar vision for interplanetary travel and deploying large satellite constellations into orbit.

The towering Super Heavy booster, however, performed as planned, returning to its launchpad after liftoff. The booster successfully reignited its Raptor engines and docked using giant mechanical arms on the launch tower.

Broader Space Industry Context

The failure occurred a day after Blue Origin, founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, successfully launched its New Glenn rocket into orbit for the first time. The incident highlights the competitive pressures and technical challenges facing private space companies striving for milestones in human and cargo space exploration.

Future Prospects

While Musk has faced criticism of the FAA’s regulatory oversight, he expressed confidence that the next Starship test could proceed within a month. However, the timing will depend on the FAA’s findings and SpaceX’s ability to implement necessary fixes.

SpaceX’s test-to-failure approach has historically included dramatic setbacks, underscoring its philosophy of pushing engineering boundaries. However, Thursday’s failure during a previously successful mission phase signals the challenges of perfecting complex rocket systems.

As SpaceX works to resolve the issue, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks and rewards associated with advancing human space exploration.

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