SpaceX’s ambitious eighth test flight of its colossal Starship megarocket ended in disaster Thursday night as the spacecraft exploded midflight, mirroring the fate of its predecessor in January. The uncrewed test flight, which launched from SpaceX’s Starbase in South Texas at 5:30 p.m. CT (6:30 p.m. ET), initially showed promise but ended with the loss of the Starship vehicle, causing disruptions to air traffic over Florida.
Despite a successful retrieval of the Super Heavy booster—marking the third time SpaceX has caught the rocket using its launch tower’s “chopstick” arms—the Starship upper stage suffered a catastrophic failure. Roughly 20 seconds before completing its ascent burn, the spacecraft lost several Raptor engines, resulting in a loss of control and communication. “Once you lose enough of those center engines, you’re going to lose attitude control,” explained Dan Huot, SpaceX’s communications manager.
The explosion, visible from parts of Florida, occurred over the Caribbean. While it remains unclear exactly where the vehicle broke apart, residents reported the incident, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted flights into major Florida airports, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Orlando. Departing flights from Fort Lauderdale and Miami faced delays averaging 30 to 45 minutes.
SpaceX later confirmed that the spacecraft had followed a predetermined launch corridor to minimize risks to the public. “Any surviving debris would have fallen within the pre-planned Debris Response Area,” stated the company. They also assured that no toxic materials were present and that marine species and water quality were unlikely to be affected.
The FAA has mandated an investigation into the mishap, requiring SpaceX to determine the cause and implement corrective measures. “The FAA will be involved in every step of the investigation process and must approve SpaceX’s final report before granting clearance for future flights,” the agency stated. The Turks and Caicos government also issued an advisory, noting that they were in contact with U.S. and U.K. agencies regarding potential debris in the area.
This marks the second consecutive failure of a Starship test flight, following Flight 7’s explosion in January. That incident resulted in debris raining over Turks and Caicos, damaging a vehicle and affecting local residents. Although SpaceX and the local government crafted a debris recovery plan, details remain undisclosed, leaving uncertainty about who is responsible for cleanup costs.
SpaceX’s rapid iteration approach to development has allowed for swift modifications following each test. For this flight, engineers removed sections of the heat shield, redesigned fuel lines, and adjusted engine thrust levels. The Super Heavy booster also received a more powerful flight computer.
Despite these upgrades, the mission failed to reach a key milestone: deploying mock Starlink satellites. The loss of Starship before achieving this objective raises questions about whether the FAA should have permitted the launch before completing the Flight 7 investigation. The growing concern is whether experimental rockets should be tested over populated areas, given the increasing risk posed by falling debris.
While SpaceX celebrates incremental progress, the latest failure underscores the significant challenges ahead for Starship, a spacecraft envisioned for deep-space missions to the Moon and Mars.