SpaceX's Starship rocket explodes mid-flight just after launch; watch video

Starship seventh test flight ended with the rocket exploding just minutes after liftoff. (Image: AP/Reuters )

SpaceX’s ambitious Starship programme encountered a setback recently. Its seventh test flight ended with the rocket exploding just minutes after liftoff. The incident caused airline routes over the Gulf of Mexico to be rerouted. Despite this failure, CEO Elon Musk remains optimistic about future missions.

After launching at 4:37pm CST from Starbase in Southern Texas, SpaceXs Starship Flight 7 is now confirmed to have Failed, with the Craft having broken-up causing Debris to be seen reentering Earths Atmosphere over the Turks and Caicos Islands. pic.twitter.com/pPPAsSCZkT

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OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 16, 2025

What Went Wrong?

Preliminary findings suggest an oxygen leak as the likely cause. Elon Musk shared on X that the leak in the cavity above the engine firewall built excessive pressure. This exceeded the venting capacity, leading to the rocket's failure.

Preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity. Apart from obviously double-checking for leaks, we will add fire suppression to that volume and Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 17, 2025

Musk also outlined plans to prevent similar issues. “We’ll double-check for leaks and add fire suppression. Vent area will also be increased,” he stated. SpaceX is already planning the next launch for the coming month, showing its commitment to rapid iteration.

Test-to-Failure Approach Continues

This mission marked the seventh Starship test since 2023. The programme aims to develop a rocket capable of carrying humans and cargo to Mars. SpaceX has adopted a test-to-failure approach, which has led to past explosions as prototypes are pushed to their limits.

Unlike previous failures, this incident occurred during a familiar flight phase. The upper stage failed eight minutes after launch from South Texas. Notably, the Falcon Super Heavy booster successfully returned to its launchpad as planned. It reignited its Raptor engines to slow descent and was caught by launch tower arms.

While this test flight ended in failure, SpaceX remains undeterred. The company plans to address the identified issues and move forward. Starship remains central to Musk’s vision of space exploration and satellite deployment. Future missions will aim to further refine the rocket’s capabilities.

SpaceX's resilience highlights its commitment to achieving ambitious space goals. Despite setbacks, the company’s vision for Mars colonisation and advanced satellite deployment remains intact.