Seventh Starship test: spaceship explodes after launch, booster captured

During the seventh test flight of a SpaceX Starship, the upper stage of the giant rocket exploded a few minutes after take-off on Friday night. Shortly beforehand, however, the US space company managed to recover the booster with the launch pad for the second time. According to SpaceX, initial data indicates that a fire developed in the rear section of the spacecraft before the entire Starship exploded. The debris probably crashed into the sea near Puerto Rico, and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had to divert several flights in the area.

According to SpaceX, it has already begun to analyze the data collected during the test flight. Together with the FAA, they will conduct an intensive analysis and make corrections to the design of the giant rocket: “In a test like this, success is in what we learn, and this flight will help us improve the reliability of Starship as we work to make life multiplanetary.” Just a few hours before the failed test, competitor Blue Origin had successfully launched the – but significantly smaller – newly developed New Glenn rocket on its first attempt.

Meanwhile, the FAA told the US portal TechCrunch that several aircraft in the airspace near Puerto Rico had to be “temporarily” slowed down or diverted. This was due to debris falling there. A video distributed by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk allegedly shows the glowing fragments in the sky over the Turks and Caicos Islands to the northwest. According to TechCrunch, flight observation portals on the internet showed several planes changing course near Puerto Rico. A delay warning was issued at Miami Airport. Before the test, it had become known that the take-offs had already disrupted Qantas' flight schedule several times.

A giant rocket for the colonization of Mars

The Starship consists of the “Super Heavy” booster, which is around 70 meters long, and an upper stage around 50 meters long. The world's largest rocket is designed in such a way that the spacecraft and rocket can be reused after returning to Earth. The rocket is to be used for humanity's return to the moon, but SpaceX promises flights to Mars. In April 2023, a complete Starship took off for the first time, but remained intact for only minutes. Six months later, the second launch attempt was successful before the rocket exploded again. Four more followed in 2024, three of which were successful.

(mho)