The uncrewed rocket, which launched from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, disintegrated mere minutes after takeoff, scattering debris over the Caribbean, including the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The 403-foot (123-metre) rocket had been expected to complete a full orbit of Earth before re-entering over the Indian Ocean. However, just like its predecessor in January, the spacecraft encountered a failure that led to what SpaceX describes as a "rapid unscheduled disassembly."
During the test, the Super Heavy booster successfully separated and returned to the launch site, where it was retrieved using SpaceX's innovative mechanical arm system. However, soon after booster separation, the upper stage of Starship appeared to lose stability.
SpaceX's livestream showed the vehicle beginning to spin uncontrollably before engineers lost contact. The company later confirmed that an "energetic event" in the aft section of the spacecraft led to the loss of several Raptor engines, resulting in a complete loss of attitude control and eventual mission failure.
SpaceX issued a statement acknowledging the mishap, saying, "Final contact with Starship came approximately nine minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff. Our teams have initiated coordination with the FAA, air traffic control, and other safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses."
The explosion had an immediate impact on aviation operations in the region. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforced temporary flight restrictions, causing delays at Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Greg Chin, Communications Director at MIA, confirmed that departures were briefly halted due to falling debris from the failed mission. The FAA later activated a "Debris Response Area," but normal flight operations resumed shortly thereafter.
Despite the setback, SpaceX reassured that safety measures had been in place to protect marine life and the surrounding environment, stating that debris was expected to fall within designated areas with minimal ecological impact.
This marks the second consecutive failure for SpaceX's Starship programme in two months. In January, a similar test flight ended in disaster when the spacecraft's engines shut down unexpectedly, leading to an uncontrolled descent. The company has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation to identify and rectify the issues before future flights.
While this failure is a blow to SpaceX's ambitions, the company remains determined to refine Starship for future deep-space missions, including lunar landings and eventual crewed flights to Mars. With continued regulatory approvals from the FAA, further test flights are expected as SpaceX works to enhance the reliability of its next-generation spacecraft.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
