Starship's eighth test flight culminated in an explosion after separation from its booster, resulting in the loss of control and subsequent detonation. The incident caused debris to fall in the Caribbean, disrupting air travel and leading to ground stops at several Florida airports. SpaceX reported an 'energetic event' that caused the loss of Raptor engines during ascent, with possible self-destruct initiated. Footage of the explosion was shared online, showcasing the dramatic event. Details about the cause remain unclear as investigations continue.
Following a successful launch, Starship separated from the Super Heavy booster rocket which returned to the launch pad and was captured by the launch tower for the third time.
During the upper stage's ascent burn, an energetic event in the aft portion of Starship resulted in the loss of several Raptor engines, according to a statement SpaceX shared.
The explosion caused debris to rain down over parts of the Caribbean, leading to flight delays and ground stops at various Florida airports.
Full details about that 'energetic event' aren't yet known, but as with Starship's last test flight, a self-destruct could have potentially been triggered.
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