SpaceX Starship Rocket Loses Upper Stage in Second Consecutive Test Failure

SpaceX Starship rocket faced another failure on Thursday when the upper stage burst into flames just minutes after lift-off during its eighth orbital test flight. The explosion occurred when the rocket booster separated successfully and was caught by SpaceX’s mechanical “chopstick” arms.

The leading stage began rolling out of control, and the signal was dropped just as the stage disintegrated over the Bahamas, just like in a previous test flight in January. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily enabled a “debris response area” above portions of US airspace, and flights from Newark to Miami were delayed. SpaceX affirmed the failure of several engines, which resulted in the explosion and loss of contact.

Despite the setback, SpaceX was able to recover the Super Heavy booster, a significant achievement in rocket science. The 403-foot rocket Starship is reusable and is at the heart of Elon Musk’s Mars colonization vision. NASA is likewise waiting for a variant to use for its Artemis mission to the Moon.

The FAA requested SpaceX to investigate the incident before resuming flights, but Musk’s sway over federal agencies has been worrying, particularly on issues of potential conflicts of interest.