Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship flew out of control and exploded after a test launch in Texas on Tuesday evening – marking another high-profile setback for the mission which aims to supply reusable spacecraft for Moon and Mars missions.
Fuel leaks meant that the craft began to spin out of control 30 minutes after launch, and it broke up on re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, with both the Super Heavy booster and rocket exploding before their planned splashdown into the Indian ocean.
It’s the third high-profile failure for the unmanned craft in a row, and part of a longer history of difficulties that stretch back to Starship’s maiden flight in April 2023.
Yahoo News outlines what the purpose of Starship is and how each of the previous launches have gone.
What is the goal of Starship?
SpaceX’s Starship is a two-stage fully reusable spacecraft and launch system and, on launch in 2023, it became the heaviest vehicle to ever fly.
Its purpose is to lower the costs of launching heavy payloads into space, and it is built to carry large cargoes into Earth orbit, to the Moon’s surface and beyond.
The two stages – the Super Heavy booster (the first stage, or booster, of the Starship launch system) and the Starship spacecraft – are both built to be ‘caught’ on re-entry and re-used.
Over the longer term, SpaceX hopes that the vehicle can support ambitions such as landing astronauts on the Moon and building cities on Mars.
Musk has been pictured in an ‘Occupy Mars’ T-shirt at Starship launches.
Flight 1 – April 2023
The maiden flight of Starship saw the Super Heavy booster and Starship fly together for the first time.
The vehicle was destroyed less than four minutes after lift off – quashing plans to complete an Earth orbit and controlled descent.
SpaceX wrote: “The vehicle experienced multiple engines out during the flight test, lost altitude, and began to tumble. The flight termination system was commanded on both the booster and ship. As is standard procedure, the pad and surrounding area was cleared well in advance of the test, and we expect the road and beach near the pad to remain closed until tomorrow.
“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and we learned a tremendous amount about the vehicle and ground systems today that will help us improve on future flights of Starship.”
Flight 2 – November 2023
The second flight test of Starship saw both the Super Heavy booster and the starship second stage destroyed.
The booster experienced multiple engine failures and exploded, while Starship continued to accelerate, reaching 93 miles above the planet.
But it vented liquid oxygen during an engine burn and exploded: the failure of the launch meant that the Federal Communications Commission rejected SpaceX’s Starlink broadband service as being suitable for federal subsidies.
Flight 3 – March 2024
Starship for the first time completed a full-duration second-stage burn, and reached orbital velocity, but the craft broke up during re-entry to the atmosphere.
SpaceX said: “Starship’s six second stage Raptor engines all started successfully and powered the vehicle to its expected orbit, becoming the first Starship to complete its full-duration ascent burn.
“Starship went on to experience its first ever entry from space, providing valuable data on heating and vehicle control during hypersonic reentry.”
Flight 4 – June 2024
The lift-off from Starbase marked significant successes for both the Super Heavy booster and Starship.
The Super Heavy booster did not return to a tower, but simulated the landing with a ‘soft splashdown’ in the gulf of Mexico.
Meanwhile, Starship showed off the ability to make a “controlled re-entry” into Earth’s atmosphere.
SpaceX said: “Starship made a controlled reentry, successfully making it through the phases of peak heating and max aerodynamic pressure and demonstrating the ability to control the vehicle using its flaps while descending through the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds.
“Flight 4 ended with Starship igniting its three centre Raptor engines and executing the first flip maneuver and landing burn since our suborbital campaign, followed by a soft splashdown of the ship in the Indian Ocean one hour and six minutes after launch.”
Flight 5 – October 2024
Flight 5 marked a major milestone for Musk’s goal to make Starship a reusable rocket system.
The 20-storey Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the arms of the launch tower just seven minutes after launch.
SpaceX communications manager Dan Huot said on the live webcast: “Are you kidding me?” What we just saw, that looked like magic.”
Flight 6 – November 2024
SpaceX launched its sixth Starship test flight to space from Texas, eyeing an array of improvements on the rocket as US president-elect Donald Trump watched in person.
The roughly 400 foot-tall (122m-tall) rocket system, designed to land astronauts on the Moon and ferry crews to Mars, lifted off successfully.
Starship splashed down successfully but an attempt to dock the Super Heavy booster was called off after a loss off communications with the launch tower.
Flight 7 – January 2025
Flight 7 experienced a propellant leak and fire, leading to an explosion over the ocean which rained debris below.
Nonetheless, the upgraded ‘Block 2’ design of the upper stage was the heaviest flying object ever built by mankind.
The Super Heavy booster successfully performed its “catch” for the second time. The Starship capsule, however, exploded.
SpaceX said: “Following stage separation, the Starship upper stage successfully lit all six Raptor engines and performed its ascent burn to space.
“Prior to the burn’s completion, telemetry was lost with the vehicle after approximately eight and a half minutes of flight. Initial data indicates a fire developed in the aft section of the ship, leading to a rapid unscheduled disassembly.”
Flight 8 – March 2025
Flight 8 launched from the SpaceX Starbase test facility in Texas, but a mishap led to commercial flights being disrupted over fears of debris.
While the Super Heavy boosters flew back to Starbase to be ‘caught’ by the Mechazilla arms, the Starship blew up during its ascent burn.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted flights to several Florida airports.
After the incident, the FAA said in a statement that it “activated a Debris Response Area and briefly slowed aircraft outside the area where space vehicle debris was falling or stopped aircraft at their departure location. Normal operations have resumed.”
The back-to-back failure occurred in early test-flight phases that SpaceX had easily achieved before, in a setback for SpaceX.
Flight 9 – May 2025
The 400-foot Starship rocket launched successfully, but sprang a fuel leak about 30 minutes into flight, and was unable to deploy its payload of eight mock Starlink satellites.
Musk hailed the test flight as a “big improvement” after previous failures, and promised that the pace of flight testing will accelerate.
Space X said: “With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s test will help us improve Starship’s reliability.”
