SpaceX’s Starship rocket launched from Texas on Tuesday evening but failed to complete its planned mission. The spacecraft spun out of control and broke apart before landing.
The 403-foot rocket lifted off from Starbase, located at the southern tip of Texas. It was the ninth demo flight and the first to use a recycled booster. The launch was part of SpaceX’s ongoing effort to prepare Starship for deep space travel.
Door Jammed, Then Loss of Control
The company had planned to release mock satellites after liftoff. However, the payload door failed to open fully. The rocket then began spinning as it entered space and lost control. It eventually burst apart while heading toward the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX described the incident as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” — a term used for unplanned destruction. “Teams will continue to review data and prepare future flights,” SpaceX said in a brief statement.
The booster also failed to return and broke up over the Gulf of Mexico. Although there were no plans to catch it, the vehicle was expected to land more smoothly.
NASA Watches as Timeline Tightens
During the flight, the spacecraft's heat shield was supposed to be tested. However, control was lost due to suspected fuel leaks. “Not looking great for our on-orbit objectives,” said SpaceX commentator Dan Huot during the livestream.
Contact with the spacecraft ended before it could re-enter safely. The webcast was also cut shortly after. The previous two Starship tests ended in the Caribbean after similar failures.
The FAA had recently cleared the test with added safety rules. These included wider hazard zones and off-peak launch times to limit air traffic disruption.
SpaceX made technical changes to this rocket, including thermal tile upgrades and catch fittings. Although this Starship was meant to sink in the Indian Ocean, it carried test features for future missions.
NASA needs SpaceX to advance quickly. A crewed flyby around the Moon is planned next year. The first landing using Starship could take place by 2027. For that mission, Starship must carry astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s surface and back.
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