Test flight explosion forces US to ground SpaceX’s Starship

A SpaceX Starship prototype failed minutes after launch from Texas, causing airline flights over the Gulf of Mexico to alter course to avoid falling debris. The incident marks a setback for Elon Musk’s flagship rocket program while the US has grounded SpaceX’s giant Starship rocket. 

According to a recent report by BBC, an investigation is carried out into why the starship exploded during the test flight. The newly upgraded Starship, carrying mock satellite payloads, lost communication with mission control eight minutes after its Thursday launch at 5:38 pm from South Texas.

“We lost all communications with the ship, indicating an anomaly with the upper stage,” confirmed SpaceX Communications Manager Dan Huot. Shortly after, he announced the ship was lost. Reuters footage captured orange light streaks across the skies of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, trailing smoke behind them.

Flight disruptions included grounded planes at Miami International Airport and at least 20 commercial flights being diverted or rerouted to avoid potential debris, according to FlightRadar24 data.

Elon Musk posted a video of the debris field on X, commenting, “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!”

The failed test featured the Starship’s new upper stage, which SpaceX described as a “new generation ship with significant upgrades” in its pre-launch materials.