SpaceX lost the upper stage of its Starship rocket on Thursday, the company announced. This was the rocket’s seventh orbital test after encountering engine anomalies during its ascent to space.
“At this point, we can confirm that we have indeed lost the ship,” SpaceX’s Kate Tice said during a webcast of the operation. “We always knew that today enthusiasm is guaranteed, but not success.”
Officials from Elon Musk’s company said the spacecraft was destroyed.
“Starship experienced a rapid and unplanned disassembly,” SpaceX wrote on X.
The Starship’s upper stage, two meters (6.56 feet) taller than previous versions, successfully detached from its Super Heavy booster about four minutes into the flight, as planned.
But minutes later, Dan Huot, SpaceX’s communications manager, said live that mission teams had “all communications with the ship.”
“It was great to see a booster go down, but we are obviously disappointed with the ship,” Huot added, saying it would take time to determine what happened.
The Starship was supposed to fly over the Gulf of Mexico from Texas on a looping path around the planet.
The spacecraft was filled with 10 fake satellites and was supposed to practice releasing them.
The upgraded Starship system is approximately 37 stories tall and lifted off from the SpaceX facility in Boca Chica, Texas, at 5:38 p.m. local time (22:38 GMT/UTC).
This was the company’s seventh test mission and the first test of 2025.
ess/sms (AP, Reuters)
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