SpaceX's Starship Explodes For Third Time
SpaceX’s latest attempt to launch its Starship rocket ended in another failure on Tuesday as both stages of the spacecraft were lost during flight. The Super Heavy booster exploded mid-descent, and the Starship upper stage spiraled out of control due to a fuel leak, eventually breaking apart during reentry. This marks the third failed test this year, despite hopes the rocket would finally complete its nearly full orbital path and demonstrate its key capabilities, including satellite deployment and a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
CEO Elon Musk, watching the flight in a T-shirt reading “Occupy Mars,” acknowledged the mission fell short of several goals, including opening the payload door and maintaining main tank pressure. Still, he described the test as a "big improvement" over previous launches, referencing the engine shutdown in space and minimal heat shield damage as progress. He promised a faster launch schedule moving forward, aiming for one Starship flight every three to four weeks.
While Musk had planned to deliver a speech on "The Road to Making Life Multiplanetary" after the launch, it was quietly delayed. The FAA confirmed it was reviewing the incident, and said that there were no injuries or damage to the public as a result of the failed flight. With NASA counting on Starship for its 2027 moon landing and billions in federal contracts at stake, the pressure is on Musk and SpaceX to get it right - fast.
