SpaceX loses Starship rocket minutes after liftoff from Texas launchpad
A SpaceX Starship rocket broke up in space just minutes after launching from Texas on Thursday, causing significant disruptions to airline flights over the Gulf of Mexico. The incident also dealt a setback to Elon Musk’s ambitious rocket program.
According to Musk, the rocket broke apart due to a fire that is believed to have been caused by leaking fuel building up pressure in the cavity above the engine firewall. This led to a fire that ultimately doomed the spacecraft. SpaceX mission control lost contact with the newly upgraded Starship, which was carrying its first test payload of mock satellites but no crew, just eight minutes after liftoff from its South Texas rocket facilities at 5:38 p.m. ET.
Videos captured orange balls of light streaking across the sky over the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, leaving trails of smoke behind. SpaceX Communications Manager Dan Huot confirmed the loss of communication with the ship and later confirmed that the ship was lost.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered SpaceX to investigate the incident, which led to dozens of commercial flights diverting to other airports or altering course to avoid potential debris. The FAA reported no injuries from the falling Starship debris. This was the first time a Starship upper stage failed since a similar incident in March of last year.
The FAA temporarily slowed and diverted planes around the area where space debris was falling, causing delays in departures from airports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. However, normal operations have since resumed. The FAA must approve SpaceX’s accident findings and any corrective actions.
The Starship rocket, which is the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket, was on a test flight and aimed for a controlled entry over the Indian Ocean roughly an hour after its launch. Despite the setback, Musk remains determined to continue with the Starship program and has not indicated any delays in the next launch.
The failure of the Starship rocket comes just a day after Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space company, successfully launched its giant New Glenn rocket into orbit for the first time. The incident threatens to derail Musk’s goal of launching at least 12 Starship tests this year, including missions for NASA’s Artemis program.
Spaceflight is inherently risky, as demonstrated by this incident. Musk has been critical of the FAA in the past, accusing the agency of overreaching and making politically-motivated decisions. Despite the setback, Musk remains committed to advancing space exploration and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space travel.
