SpaceX’s Starship reached orbit for the first time before exploding moments after splashing down in the ocean.
The uncrewed spacecraft lifted off at approximately 8:46 a.m. ET from SpaceX’s Starbase facility on the Gulf of Mexico near Brownsville. It was initially scheduled to spend about 10 hours circling Earth.
The mission was shortened, however, after one of Starship’s engines unexpectedly shut down during its ascent.
Video showed the 40-story vehicle rotating into position for what appeared to be a controlled splashdown at 11:58 a.m. ET. Seconds after striking the water, the spacecraft erupted into a huge fireball.
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot said during the livestream: “Starship has landed.”
“As you saw, not quite a soft splashdown as we had on the last one, but it’s Starship in the water nonetheless.”
Although SpaceX did not officially confirm that Starship had exploded, cameras onshore recorded the vehicle breaking apart and detonating near its midsection.
Some observers described the flight as a “complete failure.” Yet the mission’s primary objective was to send the massive spacecraft into orbit—and on Monday, Starship achieved that milestone.
The uncrewed rocket exploded upon reaching the Pacific Ocean after completing its orbital flight test on Monday.
Starship was expected to remain in orbit for more than seven hours, but an engine problem prompted SpaceX to bring it back early.
Two minutes and 34 seconds after liftoff, Starship successfully performed a hot-stage maneuver to separate from the Super Heavy Booster 21. The booster then completed its landing burn above its intended splashdown zone in the Gulf.
Soon afterward, SpaceX announced that one of the spacecraft’s three Raptor engines had shut down, putting the planned orbital attempt in jeopardy.
Roughly 20 minutes later, mission control authorized the attempt to continue, prompting cheers at Starbase. About five minutes after that, Starship reached its target orbit.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman congratulated SpaceX on the achievement in a post on X, writing: “Gorgeous launch, getting Ship to orbit and managing every step in a safe, responsible, and especially inspirational way.”
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“NASA, along with the rest of the interested public, is excited to help where we can and for Starship missions to become routine!”
Approximately eight and a half minutes after the burn, a dispenser inside Starship’s nose began deploying 26 third-generation Starlink satellites. Each satellite is designed to offer 10 times the capacity of its predecessor.
By 9:54 a.m., Starship had released its Starlink payload. Around an hour later, SpaceX announced that the spacecraft would return to Earth ahead of schedule.
“Flight teams will deorbit Starship safely to our pre-cleared area of the Pacific Ocean after 3 hours in orbit,” the Elon Musk-led company said on X.
Starship appeared to splash down as planned, but a massive fireball erupted seconds later, scattering debris from the spacecraft.
SpaceX launched Starship from its Starbase site in South Texas at 8:46 a.m. ET.
The uncrewed 40-story-tall vehicle, consisting of a Super Heavy booster rocket topped by the main upper-stage Starship vessel, thundered off its launch pad Monday morning
Starship appeared to splash down as planned, but seconds later, a massive fireball erupted, sending pieces of the spacecraft flying.
After 13 test flights that never reached orbit, SpaceX was attempting to send Starship around Earth for the first time and bring it safely back down.
Success would have strengthened confidence that a modified version can be ready for NASA’s planned Artemis moon landing in 2028.
It was not immediately clear whether the engine trouble and fiery splashdown would affect SpaceX’s preparations for the planned 2028 moon landing.
SpaceX ultimately wants Starship to flip upright and touch down in Texas, bringing crews home and allowing the spacecraft to fly again.
For now, its test flights end at sea, with no plans to recover the vehicle.