After a failed mission in January, SpaceX on Thursday launched its eighth suborbital flight test of its fully integrated Starship megarocket, a combination of the ship’s upper stage (S34) and the Super Heavy booster (B15), at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. Unfortunately, history repeated itself when Starship’s upper stage made it into space only to start spinning uncontrollably before losing contact and breaking apart, sending debris cascading back to earth early Thursday evening.
One of the goals of the flight was to catch the Super Heavy booster using the chopsticks on the launch tower, which was completed successfully.
“During Starship’s ascent burn, the vehicle experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly and contact was lost. Our team immediately began coordination with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses,” SpaceX said in a statement. “We will review the data from today’s flight test to better understand [the] root cause. As always, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will offer additional lessons to improve Starship’s reliability.” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has not commented following the launch, as of 7:45 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement noting it is requiring SpaceX to perform a “mishap investigation” into the loss of the Starship. “During the event, the FAA activated a Debris Response Area and briefly slowed aircraft outside the area where space vehicle debris was falling or stopped aircraft at their departure location,” according to the statement. “Normal operations have resumed.” A mishap investigation is designed to enhance public safety, determine the root cause of the event, and identify corrective actions to avoid it from happening again, according to the FAA. “The FAA will be involved in every step of the SpaceX-led mishap investigation process and must approve SpaceX’s final report, including any corrective actions,” according to the statement.
SpaceX announcers who were streaming during the launch said the controllers lost contact with the ship, noting a debris response plan was in effect and air traffic control was “keeping public safe.”
“We fly to learn,” announcers said before the broadcast ended.
Comment: Another major event that slipped past me. At least SpaceX got the boosters down. But the Starship has yet to achieve orbit. Maybe next time.
I do wonder if any of the WaterTribers caught a glimpse of the explosion from the Keys. I missed the start of this year’s Everglades Challenge, too.
TTG
FAA shut down SpaceX Starship launches after the mishap in January until they completed a report of what went wrong. Then Musk arrives in Washington, DC after paying $250M for his access pass and the pause was lifted without any report. Then history repeated. I don’t expect any further actions from the Feds.
The ball of fire was seen from my house. At the time, I had no idea what it was other than it was unusual. Then I saw what happened on the news. As soon as it happened, a lot of airports in Florida paused operations.
The African immigrant owns the FAA 100 percent. He will definitely make sure the FAA whitewashes the mishap investigation process. The result will be even more taxpayer subsidies to SpaceX. After all, he’s got to make up for the disastrous fall in Tesla stock as Tesla car sales are plummeting.
Musk needs to kick the ketamine habit, stop prancing around Washington DC, and get back to business.
Chill man. Boeing is where on getting re-usable launch vehicles? Just campaign on that in 2028.
“One of the goals of the flight was to catch the Super Heavy booster using the chopsticks on the launch tower, which was completed successfully.”
“During the event, the FAA activated a Debris Response Area and briefly slowed aircraft outside the area where space vehicle debris was falling or stopped aircraft at their departure location,”
So they followed standard procedure during satelite launch operations. Wooooo Whooo!
Owned man, owned!!!!!
NASA, not the rocket experts, FAA is. Always so, right? Anyway, for some idea of what went on minus ‘triggering’:
https://thesilicongraybeard.blogspot.com/2025/03/its-almost-replay-day.html
Leith,
They had best get it right soon. Too many rapid unplanned disassemblies will surely bring the the US government funding of Space X to the attention of DOGE.
Mark Logan, your subtle humor has a razor sharp edge. Took me awhile but I almost choked when I got it.
“Comment: Another major event that slipped past me.”
Heh TTG, don’t feel like you’re the only Lone Ranger.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/01/a-glowing-ring-of-metal-fell-to-earth-and-no-one-has-any-idea-what-it-is/
Looks kinda like a bicycle tire but obviously since it survived re-entry it ain’t.
But that’s not what surprises me no no no : what’s got past me is Kenya’s got a frigging space agency too! (Hope Boko Haram don’t overrun that on their march through Nigeria across the Sahel and onward through Mali!)
Sounds like Jamaica Winter Olympic team.
Kenya is on the equator, which makes it a prime location from which to launch satellites.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broglio_Space_Center