BOCA CHICA, Texas (Diya TV) — SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight ended in dramatic failure Tuesday when the spacecraft spun out of control and broke apart over the Indian Ocean, falling short of its key mission goals despite a series of technical upgrades.
The massive 123-meter rocket lifted off from Starbase, SpaceX’s launch facility at the southern tip of Texas, marking the ninth demonstration of what CEO Elon Musk has called the future of interplanetary travel. The launch had been cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration just days earlier, with officials expanding the hazard area and shifting the launch window to avoid peak airline traffic.
The flight initially appeared to proceed smoothly, but problems quickly mounted. A payload bay door intended to release mock satellites failed to open properly, scrapping one of the mission’s key objectives. Moments later, the spacecraft began spinning uncontrollably as it ascended, eventually disintegrating during an uncontrolled descent into the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX confirmed the failure, stating that Starship experienced a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” — a term the company often uses to describe explosive malfunctions. Contact with the spacecraft was lost during its descent, and the company ended its live webcast soon afterward.
“Not looking great with a lot of our on-orbit objectives for today,” SpaceX flight commentator Dan Huot said during the broadcast, shortly before communication was lost.
The spacecraft was designed to test new thermal tiles and catch fittings intended for future recovery missions. Unlike previous tests, SpaceX opted not to attempt a booster recovery using its giant launch tower “chopsticks.” Instead, the booster, which was reused for the first time in a Starship flight, was allowed to crash into the Gulf of Mexico. Contact with it was lost mid-flight before it broke apart on impact.
Initial reports suggest fuel leaks may have contributed to the spacecraft’s loss of control, though SpaceX has yet to provide a full technical explanation. The company said its teams will continue analyzing flight data to prepare for future missions.
The failure adds to a series of explosive test flights for Starship, which has seen limited success since its debut. The last two flights earlier this year also ended prematurely, with the rockets failing shortly after clearing the Caribbean. While no injuries or major property damage have been reported, prior tests disrupted commercial air traffic in the region, prompting the FAA to implement new safety measures.
NASA has a vested interest in Starship’s success. The space agency plans to use a modified version of the rocket to land astronauts on the moon as part of its Artemis program. A crewed lunar flyby is tentatively scheduled for next year, with the first moon landing set for 2027 at the earliest. That mission will rely on Starship to shuttle two astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back.
Despite the latest setback, SpaceX remains optimistic about its long-term goals. The company has made significant hardware changes, including modified thermal protection systems and reinforced structural fittings, and continues to push the envelope with each test. “Each test provides invaluable data and moves us one step closer to making life multiplanetary,” SpaceX said in a statement on its website.
While Tuesday’s mission fell short of expectations, it underscores the high-risk, high-reward nature of building the world’s most powerful launch vehicle. With increased scrutiny from regulators and rising pressure to meet NASA timelines, SpaceX’s next moves will be closely watched by both the public and the aerospace industry.
