SpaceX's Starship spacecraft destroyed in mega rocket launch
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SpaceX's Starship Explodes Mid-Flight Over Atlantic Ocean
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Above: The SpaceX Starship rocket sits at the launch pad during inclement weather on Jan. 14, 2025, near Boca Chica, Texas. Image copyright: Sergio Flores/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
SpaceX's seventh Starship test flight, launched from Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday, failed after the upper-stage spacecraft was lost approximately eight minutes into the flight. However, it was able to successfully repeat the feat of catching the Super Heavy booster back at the launchpad.
The 403-foot-tall rocket, carrying 10 dummy satellites, experienced what SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk described as an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall, leading to a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" during its ascent burn.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The successful catch of the Super Heavy booster demonstrates significant progress in SpaceX's reusability goals. The collection of vital test data, even from failures, advances the development of reliable space transportation systems. The company's rapid iteration approach and willingness to push engineering limits show promising advancement toward commercial space travel.
Establishment-critical narrative
The loss of another Starship prototype raises concerns about the program's reliability and safety, particularly given the disruption to commercial aviation and the potential risks of falling debris. The repeated failures highlight the challenges of developing such an ambitious spacecraft and question the feasibility of future lunar missions and eventual Mars colonization.
