SpaceX launched its Starship mega rocket again on Tuesday evening, aiming to bounce back after back-to-back launch failures. However, the mission ended with the spacecraft spiraling out of control and disintegrating before reaching its key test goals, according to ABC News.
The Starship rocket, standing at 403 feet (123 meters), lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in southern Texas—recently voted into cityhood. This marked the ninth demonstration flight for the massive rocket designed for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
While initial liftoff appeared smooth, complications began soon after. SpaceX had planned to deploy mock satellites, but the payload bay door malfunctioned and failed to fully open. The situation worsened as the spacecraft began spinning uncontrollably and ultimately broke apart mid-flight.
SpaceX later confirmed the craft experienced what it terms a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.” In a post-launch statement, the company said, “Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test.”
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, described the launch as a “big improvement” compared to previous attempts, which ended in fiery crashes over the Atlantic. He added that the company aims to increase its launch frequency, with a new Starship flight every three to four weeks.
For this mission, SpaceX used a recycled booster for the first time. While there were no plans to recover it, the booster was intentionally pushed to its limits. Communication with the booster was lost, and it ultimately crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. The spacecraft continued toward the Indian Ocean but lost stability, likely due to a fuel leak.
“Not looking great with a lot of our on-orbit objectives for today,” said SpaceX flight commentator Dan Huot during the webcast.
One of the primary goals was to test the spacecraft’s heat shield under reentry conditions. However, the loss of control and communications prevented that objective from being met. The webcast ended shortly after signal loss.
Earlier Starship launches this year ended minutes after takeoff, scattering debris into the Caribbean. No injuries were reported, but the failures did impact nearby air traffic. The Federal Aviation Administration had approved this latest test after expanding safety zones and adjusting timing to avoid peak flight hours.
This prototype featured upgraded thermal tiles and new fittings, intended for use in future recovery attempts. While this unit was expected to sink in the Indian Ocean, the new design elements were part of broader improvements under evaluation.
NASA is closely watching SpaceX’s Starship development, as the rocket is vital for its upcoming Artemis missions. In 2026, Starship is scheduled to fly astronauts around the moon, with a landing planned in 2027. The lunar mission will require Starship to ferry astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back.
Article updated 4 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
