SpaceX’s Starship rocket broke apart in a dramatic end to its ninth test flight on Tuesday, marking another challenge in the company’s push to develop a fully reusable spacecraft.
The 400-foot-tall rocket lifted off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, at 7:37 pm local time (11:37 pm GMT), operating under the approval of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This flight was highly anticipated, coming after two earlier test missions this year ended in failure due to problems with the rocket’s upper stage.
Shortly after launch, SpaceX announced on its social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the rocket experienced a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” — a technical term for the vehicle breaking apart unexpectedly during flight.
Despite the sudden end, SpaceX emphasized the value of the test in helping improve the Starship’s design and reliability. “With a test like this, success comes from what we learn,” the company said, adding that the data collected will support efforts to make the Starship more dependable as part of SpaceX’s long-term goal to enable human life on other planets.
SpaceX’s Starship is a key part of Elon Musk’s vision to transport humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The spacecraft is designed to be fully reusable, drastically lowering costs of space travel compared to traditional rockets.
The latest flight included upgrades meant to address failures seen in previous tests, which had suffered issues in January and March involving the rocket’s upper stages.
Since its first prototype launches, Starship has faced a series of setbacks and explosions during testing. However, SpaceX maintains that these tests are essential to developing a safe and reliable spacecraft.
Experts and space enthusiasts worldwide watch these trials closely as they represent one of the boldest efforts in private space exploration.
The company has not yet announced the timeline for the next Starship test flight, but it reiterated its commitment to learning from every mission as it pushes forward with its ambitious space goals.
