SpaceX's Starship Explodes After Launch over Caribbean

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SpaceX's eighth integrated test flight of the Starship mega-rocket system ended in failure when the spacecraft exploded shortly after launch on March 6, 2025. The mission, which took off from SpaceX's Starbase in South Texas, aimed to stress-test the vehicle and achieve objectives not met in the previous test flight in January. However, according to reports from CNN, contact with the Starship was lost approximately 20 seconds before it was scheduled to deploy mock Starlink satellites.

The Super Heavy booster successfully separated from the Starship and landed back at the launch site, marking the third successful landing of the booster. SpaceX's Dan Huot explained that the vehicle began to spin after losing several center engines, leading to the loss of contact.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by halting flights into several Florida airports due to concerns over falling debris. The FAA has mandated a mishap investigation to enhance public safety and prevent future incidents. SpaceX stated that lessons learned from this failure will improve the spacecraft’s reliability.

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