SpaceX's Starship encountered a significant setback during its seventh test flight, experiencing a mid-air explosion shortly after launch from Boca Chica, Texas. While the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launchpad, the spacecraft itself suffered a "rapid unscheduled disassembly," as SpaceX termed it, losing contact approximately 8.5 minutes into the mission.
The ambitious flight plan involved a near-global loop around the Earth, deploying ten dummy satellites along the way. This marked the inaugural flight of a newly upgraded Starship model.
The launch initially appeared promising, with the booster separating as planned roughly 2 minutes and 45 seconds post-liftoff. However, the spacecraft's engines subsequently shut down sequentially, leading to the eventual loss of the vehicle. SpaceX confirmed the incident and stated that teams are diligently analyzing flight data to pinpoint the root cause. Despite the unfortunate outcome, SpaceX emphasized the value of learning from such tests to enhance Starship's reliability.
Debris from the explosion was observed falling from the sky, capturing the attention and bewilderment of onlookers. Videos circulating online documented the event, prompting reactions from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who acknowledged the disappointment while highlighting the entertainment value of such events. He further reassured the public that upgraded versions of both the ship and booster are already prepared for future launches.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently evaluating the incident and confirmed a temporary slowdown and diversion of air traffic around the debris field. Normal operations have since resumed.
The last recorded data from the spacecraft indicated an altitude of 90 miles and a velocity of 13,245 mph. Elon Musk's vision for Starship involves deploying Starlink satellites and eventually transporting crews to destinations like the Moon and Mars. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated SpaceX on the test, emphasizing the inherent challenges of spaceflight and the importance of such tests in advancing space exploration.
