SpaceX’s Starship rocket experienced an explosive failure minutes after liftoff on Thursday, with debris raining over parts of the Caribbean and prompting temporary air traffic halts in parts of Florida.
The incident marks the second consecutive failure for the company’s Mars rocket program this year.
The rocket, a 403-foot (123-meter) system central to Elon Musk’s plans for human missions to Mars, lifted off at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET from SpaceX’s Boca Chica launch facility in Texas. While the Super Heavy first stage booster returned to Earth as planned and was successfully recovered by a SpaceX crane, the upper stage—known as Starship—began spinning uncontrollably after its engines shut down. Shortly thereafter, telemetry was lost, and videos circulating on social media showed fiery debris streaking across the dusk skies near south Florida and the Bahamas.
SpaceX confirmed in a late statement that an "energetic event" in the aft section of Starship led to the loss of several engines, which in turn caused a loss of attitude control and communication with the spacecraft. “Final contact with Starship came approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff,” the company stated. SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot commented on the live stream, “Unfortunately this happened last time too, so we've got some practice now.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the incident by issuing temporary ground stops at airports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Orlando, citing concerns over “space launch debris.” The agency has opened an investigation into the mishap and will require SpaceX to determine the cause of the failure and secure FAA approval before any further flights.
This eighth Starship test attempt follows an earlier failure in January, when the rocket exploded eight minutes into flight, resulting in debris over Caribbean islands and minor damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Despite the setbacks, SpaceX remains focused on refining the Starship system, which is intended to complete nearly a full orbit around Earth and execute a controlled re-entry over the Indian Ocean—a precursor to future land-based landing tests.
NATO's top transformation commander has issued a stark warning: Europe risks being left behind in the increasingly militarized space race, outpaced by private players like Elon Musk and strategic rivals such as China and Russia.
Elon Musk announced he will sharply reduce his involvement in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency starting next month, shifting focus back to Tesla amid mounting investor pressure and falling sales.
Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he plans to visit India later this year, following a discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about potential collaboration in technology and innovation.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, made direct appeals to U.S. President Donald Trump over the weekend to reverse newly imposed tariffs, according to a report from the Washington Post.
A jury trial in the lawsuit filed by billionaire Elon Musk against OpenAI will begin in spring 2026, as determined by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers on Friday.
Sony reports an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, driven by strong demand in music and gaming sectors, despite a slowdown in its financial segment.
France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to Algiers' decision to expel French officials, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Wednesday, signaling a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Saudi Arabia fully supports the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said, expressing hope for a constructive outcome that could ease regional tensions.
Japanese children continue to struggle with mental health issues, ranking 32nd out of 43 developed and emerging countries, according to a new UNICEF report, despite notable improvements in education and strong physical health indicators.
Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson welcomed the PKK's declaration of disarmament and dissolution, calling it an important step toward rejecting violence and strengthening security.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
U.S. President Donald Trump kicked off his Gulf tour with a high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, securing a major strategic economic agreement and pledging deep investment ties between the two nations.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church, as Cardinal Robert Prevost is named pope.
Pope Leo XIV has pledged to prioritise global peace, rejecting war as inevitable and offering the Vatican’s role in mediating international conflicts.
Sony reports an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, driven by strong demand in music and gaming sectors, despite a slowdown in its financial segment.
France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to Algiers' decision to expel French officials, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Wednesday, signaling a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Saudi Arabia fully supports the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said, expressing hope for a constructive outcome that could ease regional tensions.
Russia will send a delegation to Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine on Thursday, but the members will be revealed in the evening. The Kremlin confirmed the talks would proceed, and a senior Russian lawmaker suggested an all-for-all prisoner exchange might be considered.
Sony reports an 18% rise in profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, driven by strong demand in music and gaming sectors, despite a slowdown in its financial segment.
France will expel Algerian diplomats in response to Algiers' decision to expel French officials, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Wednesday, signaling a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Saudi Arabia fully supports the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said, expressing hope for a constructive outcome that could ease regional tensions.
Japanese children continue to struggle with mental health issues, ranking 32nd out of 43 developed and emerging countries, according to a new UNICEF report, despite notable improvements in education and strong physical health indicators.
Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson welcomed the PKK's declaration of disarmament and dissolution, calling it an important step toward rejecting violence and strengthening security.
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