SpaceX Starship test fails after launch in Texas

The latest test of Space X’s giant Starship rocket failed minutes after launch.

Elon Musk’s company officials said the upper stage was lost after problems arose after takeoff from Texas on Thursday.

But the super-heavy launch vehicle managed to return to the launch pad as planned, prompting thunderous applause from ground control teams.

The mission came hours after the first flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket system, backed by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos.

Both tech billionaires want to dominate the space vehicle market.

“During the ascent of the Starship, there was a quick unscheduled disassembly. Teams will continue to review data from today’s flight test to better understand the root cause,” SpaceX posted on X.

“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability.”

Unverified footage circulating on social media shows what appears to be a rocket disintegrating in flames.

The footage shows orange orbs of light flying across the sky over Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, leaving a trail of smoke behind them.

“Success is uncertain, but fun is guaranteed!” Mr Musk posted a video on X showing a trail of fire streaking across the sky.

He also said that “improved versions” of the ship and launch vehicle are “already awaiting launch”.

“The preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel leak into the cavity above the ship’s engine firewall that was large enough to create a pressure that exceeded the vent’s capacity,” Musk said shortly after, adding that “so far nothing does not indicate a push for the next launch next month.”

Footage of the launch has garnered 7.2 million views, according to SpaceX’s live stream.

The Starship system lifted off from Boca Chico, Texas at 17:38 EST (22:38 GMT) during the campaign’s seventh test mission.

The Starship’s upper stage separated from the superheavy booster nearly four minutes into the flight, as planned.

But then SpaceX communications manager Dan Huot announced live that the mission teams had lost contact with the craft.

The super-heavy launch vehicle managed to return to the launch pad about seven minutes after liftoff, as planned, prompting thunderous applause from the ground control teams.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was aware that an “anomaly occurred” during the SpaceX mission.

“The FAA briefly slowed and directed the aircraft around the crash site of the spacecraft debris. Normal operations have resumed,” the statement said.

It came a day after a SpaceX rocket blasted off from Florida carrying two privately-built landers and a micro-rover to the moon.

An uncrewed Falcon 9 launched from the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday.

And Bezas’ company Blue Origin successfully launched a rocket into orbit for the first time.

It was a huge step forward for Bezos and his company, which had spent years trying to send a rocket into orbit.