Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship rocket spiraled out of control and exploded in space, sparking flight diversions and air traffic chaos as debris fell from the sky.
The explosion marked a disappointing end to a successful launch, as the billionaire works towards his goal of sending humans to Mars.
A ground stop was ordered across airports in Florida, including Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, as a result of the explosion, with debris plummeting into Earth.
The rocket launched at 5:30 pm local time from the Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, with watchers-on waiting with bated breath to see if it survived the test of passing the maximum aerodynamic pressure point at about one minute and 10 seconds.
More than one million people tuned into Musk’s livestream on X to witness the launch, celebrating and cheering as it successfully rocketed into space.
The booster “stuck the landing” as it returned to Earth, slotting straight back into the “chopsticks” as intended.
However, just 10 minutes into a journey that was expected to take about an hour, the rocket started spiraling out of control as four of the six engines cut out.
Seconds later, the livestream video ended and SpaceX staff confirmed they’d “lost contact with the ship.”
Extraordinary video from the Bahamas shows debris falling from the sky as the rocket imploded in a fiery ball of flames.
“We’ve got a lot of measures in place, like debris response areas, where we coordinate very closely with air traffic control,” said SpaceX’s Dan Huot.
“We have a lot of measures before we ever launch a rocket to make sure that we’re keeping the public safe. Those worked last time and they’re actively in work right now.”
In the lead-up to the launch, SpaceX detailed several operational changes that had been made to “increase the reliability” of the rocket.
However, SpaceX’s statement on Thursday evening confirmed the explosion and failed mission.
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an investigation into the mishap, which SpaceX has vowed to comply with.
Musk himself is yet to acknowledge the result, but SpaceX maintains that any launch is considered a success as it is one step closer to achieving its goal.
The company has also announced plans to launch five Starships to Mars in 2026, with no crews on board, to test the vehicles’ ability to successfully land on the planet.
Conclusion
The failure of the Starship rocket is a significant setback for Elon Musk’s ambitious plans to send humans to Mars. Despite the setback, SpaceX remains committed to achieving its goal and has announced plans to launch five Starships to Mars in 2026. The company is also working to improve the reliability of its rockets, including the implementation of new operational changes to increase the success rate of future launches.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened to the Starship rocket?
The Starship rocket experienced a failure shortly after launch, with debris falling to Earth and causing air traffic chaos. - Why did the rocket fail?
The exact cause of the failure is still unknown, but it is believed that a rapid unscheduled disassembly during the ascent burn led to the explosion. - What is SpaceX’s plan for the future?
SpaceX plans to launch five Starships to Mars in 2026, with no crews on board, to test the vehicles’ ability to successfully land on the planet. - How does this setback affect the timeline for sending humans to Mars?
The failure of the Starship rocket does not significantly impact the timeline for sending humans to Mars, as SpaceX has already announced plans to launch Starships to the planet in 2026. - What is the Federal Aviation Administration’s role in the investigation?
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an investigation into the mishap, which SpaceX has vowed to comply with.
About The Author
