Starship’s Eighth Test Flight Ends in Explosion, Debris Falls Over Caribbean
For the second time in a row, a SpaceX Starship test flight has ended in a dramatic explosion. Following a successful launch, Starship’s eighth test flight met a fiery end, echoing the failure of its previous mission on January 16th. The explosion sent debris raining over parts of the Caribbean, causing flight delays and diversions in Florida and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Starship’s Test Flight: What Happened?
The test began smoothly as Starship lifted off and separated from its Super Heavy booster, which successfully returned to the launch pad and was caught by the launch tower for the third time. However, during the upper stage’s ascent burn, SpaceX reported an “energetic event in the aft portion of Starship,” leading to the failure of multiple Raptor engines. This loss of thrust caused Starship to spin out of control before it ultimately exploded.
SpaceX lost communication with the spacecraft nine minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff. While the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation, it is possible that a self-destruct command was initiated as part of a pre-planned contingency response, similar to previous test flights.
Impact on Air Travel
In the wake of the explosion, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted departures from major Florida airports, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Palm Beach. The ground stop lasted for over an hour before normal operations resumed around 8 PM ET, according to Reuters. Tampa International Airport was unaffected, but two Miami-bound flights were diverted to Tampa, and another flight en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico, had to return to Tampa, as reported by KTLA.
Footage Captures the Fiery Spectacle
The explosion was caught on camera from multiple angles. Space photographer Trevor Mahlmann shared a 30-second video on X (formerly Twitter), showing a bright flash followed by an expanding, spiraling cloud in the twilight sky. Meanwhile, the YouTube channel Astronomy Live captured the event through an 11-inch telescope, describing the explosion as resembling a “spiral galaxy” as burning fuel sprayed in all directions.
Similar to the previous test flight failure, videos of Starship’s debris field quickly surfaced across social media. Footage from the ground, boats, and even airplanes over the Bahamas captured the burning wreckage streaking across the sky.
What’s Next for SpaceX and Starship?
With two consecutive Starship test flights ending in what SpaceX calls a “rapid unscheduled disassembly,” the company faces significant challenges in preparing for the next launch. While anticipation for Starship’s ninth test flight is high, the timeline for its next attempt remains uncertain. SpaceX will need to conduct a thorough investigation into the latest failure and implement necessary fixes before another launch can be scheduled.
As engineers work to resolve these issues, all eyes—and cameras—will be on the skies when Starship takes flight once again.