A SpaceX Starship rocket suffered a catastrophic failure and exploded just minutes after launching from Texas on Thursday. The incident marked the second consecutive failure of the massive rocket.
Debris from the rocket fell across the Caribbean Sea, prompting warnings from authorities and causing flights to be grounded at several Florida airports. Fortunately, no injuries or damage were reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) delayed flights due to the “space launch incident” and has since grounded Starship launches pending an investigation.
SpaceX confirmed the incident, stating that the rocket suffered “a rapid unscheduled disassembly” during ascent. The company assured that debris should have fallen within a pre-planned area and the rocket did not contain any toxic materials.
The Starship rocket is a key component of SpaceX’s ambitions to colonize Mars. Thursday’s incident raises concerns about the company’s aggressive testing schedule and potential risks to nearby communities and infrastructure.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with SpaceX working to determine the root cause of the failure.