SpaceX Starship Explodes Mid-Flight, Disrupts US Air Traffic

The Facts

• A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded shortly after it was launched on its eighth test flight from the Starbase facility in Texas at 5:30 pm CT on Thursday, briefly grounding flights at four Florida airports.

• Seven minutes later, the Super Heavy booster successfully separated and returned to the launch pad for its third-ever catch using the mechanical "chopstick" arms.

• Approximately nine minutes into the flight, several of Starship's Raptor engines failed, causing the vehicle to lose attitude control and ultimately explode over the Caribbean. This caused visible debris across Florida and the Bahamas.