SpaceX’s highly anticipated Starship test faced a setback as the rocket system, touted as the most powerful ever built, safely lifted off but ended prematurely with an explosion and loss of signal. The Super Heavy booster and Starship spacecraft separated successfully, but the booster was destroyed, erupting into flames over the Gulf of Mexico. Despite this, the Starship spacecraft briefly continued its journey, reaching an altitude of about 93 miles above Earth.
The test marked a significant advancement compared to the April attempt, with the spacecraft achieving near orbital velocities. However, issues arose during the “hot staging” process, a risky phase where the Starship spacecraft uses its engines to separate from the Super Heavy booster. The booster, intended for a controlled landing, instead tumbled out of control and exploded, prompting the mission’s early termination.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed a mishap during the test but reported no injuries or property damage. An FAA investigation will determine the root cause, potentially affecting Starship’s development and future missions, including NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed optimism, stating that setbacks are opportunities to learn and improve, emphasizing the collaborative efforts between NASA and SpaceX for future space exploration.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk previously acknowledged the riskiness of the hot staging process, and the company plans to analyze data to enhance the booster’s performance for future tests. Despite the setback, SpaceX maintains its commitment to learning from each test to advance rocket development rapidly and efficiently.