SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft suffered another explosive failure on Thursday, breaking apart in space just minutes after launching from Texas. This marks the second major setback for Elon Musk’s Mars-bound rocket in 2025.
Videos shared on social media captured fiery debris streaking across the skies near South Florida and the Bahamas after Starship lost control and its engines shut down. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by halting air traffic in parts of Florida due to concerns over falling space debris.
The failed test flight comes just over a month after a similar explosion in January, raising concerns over the pace and safety of SpaceX’s ambitious space exploration program. Starship, a 403-foot (123-meter) rocket system, is a key part of Musk’s vision to send humans to Mars by the early 2030s.
The rocket launched from SpaceX’s Boca Chica, Texas, facility at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET (2330 GMT). While the Super Heavy first-stage booster successfully detached and returned to Earth, Starship’s upper stage spun uncontrollably before contact was lost. SpaceX later confirmed an “energetic event” in the rocket’s aft section caused multiple engine failures, ultimately leading to the loss of communication.
The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident, requiring SpaceX to determine the cause of the failure before any further launches can be approved. Despite the setback, Musk remains committed to accelerating Starship’s development, with future test flights anticipated later this year.
