SpaceX's Starship spacecraft breaks apart in space

(CLO) SpaceX's Starship spacecraft encountered a problem in space just minutes after launching from Texas on Thursday, forcing flights over the Gulf of Mexico to change course to avoid falling debris.

SpaceX mission control lost contact with the upgraded Starship just eight minutes after liftoff from its South Texas rocket facility at 5:38 p.m. ET. It was the first time Starship had tested carrying a payload of simulated satellites.

The moment the Starship spacecraft is launched by the Super Heavy rocket on January 16, 2025. Screenshot

“We lost all communication with the ship — that basically told us there was an anomaly on the upper deck,” SpaceX communications director Dan Huot said, confirming minutes later that the ship had gone missing.

Although the Starship exploded in space, its Super Heavy booster returned safely to the launch pad about seven minutes after takeoff as planned, when it hooked onto giant mechanical arms attached to the launch tower.

"It's great to see the booster come down, but obviously we're very disappointed in the spacecraft," Huot said, adding that it would take time to determine what happened.

Video of the launch (source SpaceX/YouTube/VFS)

X [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzWMEegqbLs[/embed]

Several flights were canceled at Miami International Airport. At least 20 commercial flights were diverted to other airports or rerouted to avoid potential debris, according to tracking website FlightRadar24.

SpaceX CEO, billionaire Elon Musk, posted a video on X showing the landfill and said: "Success is not guaranteed, but entertainment is!"

Although the Starship spacecraft exploded in space, the Super Heavy rocket safely returned to the launch pad. Screenshot

Starship's upper stage, which is 6.5 feet (2 meters) taller than previous versions, is a "next-generation ship with significant upgrades," SpaceX said. It is expected to make a controlled landing in the Indian Ocean about an hour after launch from Texas.

The mission is SpaceX's seventh Starship test since 2023 in Musk's multibillion-dollar effort to build a rocket capable of carrying people and cargo to Mars, as well as deploying multiple large satellites into Earth orbit.

Hoang Hai (according to SpaceX, Reuters, DW)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tau-vu-tru-starship-cua-spacex-vo-tung-trong-khong-giant-cac-chuyen-bay-phai-chuyen-huong-post330765.html